CIRCUMCISION

Circumcision is a minor surgery to remove the foreskin from the penis. It is optional which means parents have a choice of whether to have it done. Parents usually base this personal decision on religious, cultural, or traditional factors.

Circumcision is one of the oldest surgeries known. It began as a religious ritual or an initiation to manhood prior to puberty or prior to the teen-age years. More than half of all American boys are circumcised. The practice is rare in some areas of the world. Reasons for circumcision today include cleanliness, tradition, cancer prevention, infection prevention, and personal factors.

There is some evidence that circumcision may slightly decrease the chance of infection under the foreskin, penile cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, and, during the first year of life, urinary tract infections. Most of these can also be prevented with good hygiene and cleanliness. These slight advantages need to be considered along with possible complications, pain, and cost of the procedure.

Some people base their choice on tradition. If the father is circumcised, so is the son. Some people think a boy may feel different from his peers if he is uncircumcised.

Because circumcision is primarily performed on infants, the decision rests with the parents. Parents considering the procedure should consult their healthcare provider for advice. The surgery itself can be done any time, but is usually done soon after birth.

A consent form is signed before the procedure is performed. A local anesthetic is frequently used. The surgical area is then cleaned and the foreskin removed. The incision is initially red and tender. The tenderness is minimal by the third day. The scab at the incision line comes off in 7 to 10 days to complete the healing.

Care includes frequent diaper changes and gently cleansing the area with water 3 times a day or whenever it becomes soiled. Using soap is usually not necessary when doing the cleansing.

Petroleum jelly or an antibiotic ointment should be applied to the incision line after cleansing. This will keep the tissue soft during healing.

Call your child's provider for any of the following:

if your baby develops a fever or acts sick
if the head of the penis turns black and blue
if the incision line bleeds more than a few days or looks infected or
if you have concerns or questions

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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