Circumcision
Some patients may have a medical need for circumcision, such as when the foreskin is too tight to be pulled back (retracted) over the glans. In other cases, older boys and men may undergo circumcision to reduce the risk of certain sexually transmitted infections.
The Benefits of Circumcision
Circumcision may offer the following health benefits:
Easier hygiene: Circumcision makes it easier to wash the penis. However, an uncircumcised penis can also be washed regularly beneath the foreskin.
Decrease the risk of urinary tract infection (UTI): Though the risk of urinary tract infections in males is low, circumcised males are less likely to develop a UTI. Boys that develop severe infections early in life may experience kidney problems later.
- Decrease the risk of sexually transmitted infections: Circumcised men are less likely to develop certain sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. However, it’s still important to follow safe sexual practices.
- Prevent penile problems: Some men may have difficulty retracting the foreskin on an uncircumcised penis, or it can be impossible (phimosis). This can lead to inflammation of the head of the penis.
- Decrease the risk of penile cancer: Although penile cancer is rare, it’s less common in circumcised men. In addition, the female sexual partners of circumcised men are less likely to have cervical cancer.
The risks of not being circumcised, however, are rare and avoidable with proper hygiene.
Circumcision might not be an option if the individual has been diagnosed with certain blood-clotting disorders. Premature babies who still require medical care in the hospital nursery or babies born with abnormalities of the penis may also not qualify for circumcision.
Circumcision doesn’t affect fertility, nor does it enhance or reduce sexual pleasure for men or their partners.
What to Expect During the Procedure
Newborn circumcision is typically done in the hospital nursery within 10 days after birth.
For newborn circumcision, the child will lie on his back with his arms and legs restrained. A nurse will cleanse the penis and surrounding area, and inject an anesthetic into the base of the penis or apply it to the penis as a cream. Next, a special clamp or plastic ring will be attached to the penis and the foreskin will be removed.
The nurse will cover the penis with an ointment, such as a topical antibiotic or petroleum jelly, and loosely wrap it with gauze. The entire procedure is completed within 10 minutes.
The procedure is similar for older boys and adults. However, circumcision might need to be done under general anesthesia and the recovery process may be longer. In addition, the risk of complications might be higher when circumcision is done later in life.
Risk Factors
Rarely, circumcision might lead to problems with the foreskin. For example, the foreskin might be cut too short or too long, or it might fail to heal properly. In rare cases, the remaining foreskin might reattach to the end of the penis, requiring surgical repair.
