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Circumcision
Information for Parents
Circumcision
is a surgical procedure in which the skin covering the end of
the penis is removed. Circumcision is usually performed by a
doctor in the first few days of life. An infant must be stable
and healthy to safely be circumcised.
Scientific studies show some medical benefits of
circumcision. However, these benefits are not sufficient for
the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to recommend that all
infant boys be circumcised. Parents may want their sons
circumcised for religious, social and cultural reasons. Since
circumcision is not essential to a child’s health, parents
should choose what is best for their child by looking at the
benefits and risks.
Many parents choose to have their sons circumcised because
"all the other men in the family were circumcised"
or because they do not want their sons to feel
"different." Others feel that circumcision is
unnecessary and choose not to have it done. Some groups, such
as followers of the Jewish and Islamic faiths, practice
circumcision for religious and cultural reasons. Since
circumcision may be more risky if done later in life, parents
may want to decide before or soon after their son is born if
they want their son circumcised.
As noted above, research studies suggest that there may be
some medical benefits to circumcision. These include the
following:
- A lower risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs). A
circumcised infant boy has about a 1 in 1,000 chance of
developing a UTI in the first year of life; an
uncircumcised infant boy has about a 1 in 100 chance of
developing a UTI in the first year of life.
- A lower risk of getting cancer of the penis. However,
this type of cancer is very rare in both circumcised and
uncircumcised males.
- A slightly lower risk of getting sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs), including HIV, the AIDS virus.
- Prevention of foreskin infections.
- Prevention of phimosis, a condition in uncircumcised
males that makes foreskin retraction impossible.
- Easier genital hygiene.
Just as there are reasons parents may choose circumcision,
they are reasons why parents may choose NOT to have their son
circumcised:
- Possible risks. As with any surgery, circumcision has
some risks. Complications from circumcision are rare and
usually minor. They may include bleeding, infection,
cutting the foreskin too short or too long, and improper
healing.
- The belief that the foreskin is necessary to protect the
tip of the penis. When removed, the tip of the penis may
become irritated and cause the opening of the penis to
become too small. Rarely, this can cause urination
problems that may need to be surgically corrected.
- Some people believe that circumcision makes the tip of
the penis less sensitive, causing a decrease in sexual
pleasure later in life. This has not been proven by any
medical or psychological study.
Almost all uncircumcised boys can be taught proper hygiene
that can lower their chances of getting infections, cancer of
the penis, and sexually transmitted diseases.
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