Circumcision is a simple surgical procedure that removes the foreskin – a sleeve of skin covering the tip of the penis. In order to make an informed decision, they must carefully consider the benefits and risks.
Benefits of circumcision
- Eliminates the risk of phimosis, which affects 1 in 10 older boys and men. This condition refers to a tight foreskin that cannot be pulled back fully, so making cleaning under it, and passing urine, difficult.
- Reduces by 3-fold the risk of inflammation and infection of the skin of the penis. One in 10 uncircumcised men gets inflammation of the head of the penis and foreskin.
- Over 10-fold decrease in risk of urinary tract infection. Whereas risk of this is only 1 in 500 for a circumcised boy, 1 in 50 uncircumcised male infants will get a urinary tract infection.
- Over 20-fold decrease in risk of invasive penile cancer.
- One in 600 uncircumcised men gets penile cancer, which usually requires penile amputation or disfiguring surgery.
- Uncircumcised men have 1½ – 2 times the risk of prostate cancer, which affects 1 in 6 men.
- Reduces by approximately 3 to 7 fold the risk of getting HIV (AIDS), during sex with an infected person.
- Circumcision also affords substantial protection against thrush as well as sexually transmitted infections such as papilloma (wart) virus and syphilis.
- Circumcision reduces by up to 5 times the risk of the man’s female partner being infected by Chlamydia or getting cervical cancer (which is caused by human papillomavirus). The load of infectious bacteria and viruses that accumulate under the foreskin is delivered into the female genital tract during sex.
- If not circumcised soon after birth, up to 10% will later require one anyway for medical reasons.
- Credible research shows that most women prefer the appearance of the circumcised penis. They also prefer it for sexual activity. Hygiene is one reason; increased contact of the penis with the vaginal wall, and stimulation, are others.
- In general, sexual function and sensation are the same or better in circumcised men. The problem of overly tender sensitivity of the head of the penis experienced by most uncircumcised men is virtually eliminated.
Risks of circumcision
- For 1 in 500 circumcisions, there may be either a little bleeding – easily stopped by pressure or, less commonly, requiring stitches (1 in 1000); the need for repeat surgery (1 in 1000); or a generalized infection that will require antibiotics (1 in 4000). Although there can be a local infection, often what seems like a local infection is actually part of the normal healing process.
- Serious complications (requiring hospitalization) are rare – approximately 1 in 5000.
- Mutilation or loss of the penis, and death, are virtually unheard of with circumcisions performed by a competent medical practitioner.
- Anaesthetic is suggested, preferably a local one.
- Delay means stitches being used for circumcision of older children, teenagers and men.
- So if circumcision is delayed past 4 months, total cost will become increasingly greater.
In conclusion
Circumcision confers a lifetime of medical benefits. One in 3 uncircumcised boys will develop a condition requiring medical attention. In contrast, risk of an easily treatable condition during a circumcision is a very low 1 in 500, and of a true complication is 1 in 5000. A successful circumcision is very unlikely to have any long-term adverse consequences and cosmetic outcome is generally excellent.
Further information may be obtained from the following web sites:
http://www.circinfo.net (Prof Morris, Sydney)
http://www.gilgalsoc.org (The Gilgal Society, London)
Extracts from: “Circumcision: A guide for parents” by Professor Brian Morris (University of Sydney).