Circumcision – why you may want to do it and why you may not.

Hello yaw,

I need to start working on my southern draw, although I’m not so sure they have it in Texas. Anyway, today I will be writing about cirumcisions and why you may want your child to get one, and why you may not. As always, I hope you find this information useful and would like to encourage your participation.

CIRCUMCISION –

There are many differing schools of thought on this subject, we will look at them all as we go over the facts.  You’ll need to weigh the risks versus the benefits and other factors such as culture, religion and personal preference will affect your decision. 

First and foremost, what is circumcision ?  It is a procedure in which a pediatrician removes the prepuce of the foreskin, or the skin that covers the tip of the penis.   This is usually done 18-24 hours after birth. 

During circumcision the infants arms and legs are restrained.  A local anesthetic is generally used, and the pediatrician does the procedure in about 5-10 minutes.  The foreskin is loosened from the glans of the penis, and a Gomco clamp is used to protect the glans of the penis from any injury.  Sometimes the Dr. can use other methods such as a Mogen clamp, or a plastibell procedure.  Ask your pediatrician which one they use and they can answer any questions you may have.

After the procedure, if a Gomco clamp ( the most common method ) was used, you will need to use vaseline and gauze for 2-3 days after, with each diaper change.  This protects the sensitive skin of the glans from the pressure of diapers and the ammonia in urine. 

Pro’s and Con’s –

Several potential benefits of circumcision appear to be supported by most studies.  Boys who have been circumcised are less likely to have urinary tract infections, ( UTI’s ).  Also, it appears to reduce the risk of STD’s in men , protects against penile cancer later in life and may reduce the risk of cervical cancer in female sex partners.

There are some disadvatages also.  The infant may experience pain, have increased bleeding or infection at the site and scarring/malformation of the penis is rare but also possible.  Also, parents may feel some guilt.

If you choose not to have your son circumcised, there are some things you’ll need to know.  Keeping the area clean with soap and water helps reduce the risk of problems and infections.  In older boys and men, the foreskin slides back and forth over the penis allowing for cleansing, but from birth through age 3-4 it DOESN’T RETRACT.  Don’t force it to retract or you could cause damage and problems to the penis.  Once he is older he can be shown how to detract the foreskin and cleanse his penis properly.

I know that deciding is not easy, but with this information I hope it helps make it a little bit easier.  As always, feel free to input your comments and experiences. 

God bless always,

Meredith – RNC