Overview
Circumcision is one of the most common procedures performed in males. Circumcision is a short and fairly safe procedure that takes around 10-15 minutes. The procedure removes the foreskin that covers the glans penis or the penis head.
Some parents request a circumcision for their newborns or children due to religious customs, aesthetic reasons, or prevention of potential diseases.
Adult males can also request a circumcision for medical reasons or aesthetic reasons where they feel more confident with their appearance after circumcision.
How common is circumcision?
Ritual circumcision is an ancient practice in many communities like the Jewish, Islam, and some aboriginal tribes in Australia and Africa.
Neonatal circumcision is a common practice in countries like the USA, South Korea, Australia, and the Middle East countries where babies are released from hospitals after the removal of the foreskin.
Circumcision can be done at any age. The ideal age for circumcision is still debatable. Traditionally, in many communities, the circumcision is performed soon after the birth of the baby.
What is the right age to do circumcision?
Doctors believe that neonatal circumcision or circumcision during infancy is probably the right age for circumcision.
In neonatal circumcision, doctors mostly perform the Plastibell circumcision where a plastic ring is attached to the baby’s foreskin which dies and falls off within 5-7 days.
This procedure is safe during the first few weeks of the baby’s birth. During this time, the skin is soft and healing is much faster.
In the Muslim community, circumcision is done on the 7th day of the baby’s birth. Doctors believe that this is an ideal age for circumcision as healing is quicker and postoperative complications of bleeding are minimal.
Childhood circumcision comes with the following benefits:
- Doctors use simpler techniques
- Better cosmetic outcomes
- The scar line fades away over time
- Healing is quicker and easier
- Less pain
- Babies have no recollection of the procedure
Can circumcision be done on older children?
Circumcision can be done at any age. However, as the baby grows there may be psychological impacts or fear related to the operation.
Infants move less, they are less active, and it is easy to manage them during the procedure.
As the child grows, as a parent it is important to explain the benefits of the procedure and relax him before the operation. It is easier to perform the operation if the child is cooperative during the procedure.
However, older children will be sedated during the procedure to make it pain-free and provide comfort during the procedure.
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What are the benefits of circumcision?
Circumcision is done both for medical benefits as well as non-medical causes.
Though the procedure is usually done during the first few days after the baby’s birth and months, it can also be done at a later age during adolescence and adulthood.
Non-medical benefits of circumcision
Easier penile hygiene maintenance
Circumcision helps to maintain better hygiene. Nonetheless, it is important that both circumcised and uncircumcised males should maintain genital hygiene.
Genitourinary infections and accumulation of smegma are found to be less common in circumcised males.
Smegma is a thick whitish or yellowish secretion that accumulates in the penis. It consists of oil secretions from sebaceous glands, sweat, and dead skin cells. This generally accumulates if the genitals are not cleaned properly.
Smegma buildup can cause:
- Discolouration
- Difficult to retract skin during erection
- Foul smell
- The clitoral hood may stick to the clitoris
- Irritation
- Swelling
Cultural beliefs
Male circumcision in many countries and religious communities is associated with religious customs. Muslim and Jewish males are circumcised right after birth within the first few days or at puberty.
In many countries, circumcision is done in young men and boys to mark the transition to manhood. It is a welcome ceremony for an adult member of their community.
Aesthetic causes
Some adult males prefer to circumcise themselves for aesthetic benefits. They believe that circumcision provides an enhanced genital appearance and boosts self-confidence.
Some men also believe that circumcision can elevate sexual pleasure.
Medical benefits
Circumcision provides protection against certain diseases and infections such as:
Decreases sexually transmitted diseases (STIs)
Clinical trials have proven that circumcision reduces the risks of transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, syphilis, genital herpes, HPV (oncogenic human papillomavirus), and bacterial vaginosis in female partners.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Circumcision reduces the risks of UTIs and their recurrence in the future. This is one of the reasons why parents seek to circumcise their babies after birth. It is estimated that circumcision can reduce 90% chances of UTIs in babies.
Phimosis
Phimosis is the inability to retract the foreskin (prepuce). The foreskin may appear as folds in the penis head.
Phimosis can lead to:
- Swelling
- Irritation
- Pain during urination (dysuria)
- Pain during erections
- Soreness
- Infections
Circumcision can remove the foreskin and free the penis head.
Balanitis
Balanitis is the inflammation of the glans penis or penis head.
Yeast infections or bacterial infections can cause balanitis.
Some of the symptoms of balanitis include:
- Swelling
- Irritation
- Foul smell
- Itching of the foreskin
- White or shiny skin on the penis
- Pain during peeing
- Lesions or sores on the penis head
Penile cancer
Research studies show that circumcision prevents the risk of developing penile cancer.
Chronic inflammatory diseases like phimosis or balanitis and STIs like HIV or HPV can lead to penile cancer. Smegma buildup can also contribute to penile cancer.
Penile eczema
Circumcision reduces the risks of developing penile eczema. It can be caused due to STIs, fungal, yeast infections, etc.
Symptoms may include:
- Itchy, flaky skin
- Dry skin
- Discoloured rashes
- Bumps on the skin
- Swelling
