Circumcision

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Foreskin

Overview

Recovery

Risks

Circumcision

Definition:

Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis. It is often performed in healthy boys for cultural or religious reasons. In the U.S., circumcision of a newborn boy is usually done before he leaves the hospital. Jewish boys, however, are circumcised when they are 8 days old.

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The merits of circumcision are currently under debate. There is NOT a compelling medical rationale for the procedure in healthy boys. However, some boys have medical conditions where circumcision may be needed.

Many physicians, rather than routinely recommending circumcision for healthy boys, allow the parents to make the decision after presenting them with the pros and cons.

Alternative Names:
Foreskin removal; Removal of foreskin
Description:

A numbing medication (local anesthesia) is recommended during the procedure. It might be injected at the base of the penis, in the shaft, or applied as a cream to reduce pain.

There are a variety of ways to perform a circumcision. Most commonly, the foreskin is pushed from the head of the penis and clamped with a metal or plastic ring-like device.

If the ring is metal, the foreskin is cut off and the metal device removed. The circumcision heals in 5-7 days.

If the ring is plastic, a piece of suture is tied tightly around the foreskin. This pushes the tissue into a groove in the plastic over the head of the penis. Within 5-7 days, the plastic covering the penis falls free, leaving a completely healed circumcision.

A sweetened pacifier or lollipop may be given to the baby during the procedure. This may reduce pain. Tylenol (acetominonphen) may be given afterward.

Circumcision of older and adolescent boys is usually done while the child is completely asleep and pain-free (using general anesthesia). The foreskin is removed and stitched onto the remaining skin of the penis. Stitches that will dissolve (absorbable sutures) are used and will be absorbed within 7 to 10 days.

Indications:

In some faiths, including Judaism and Islam, circumcisions are performed on all baby boys as a religious rite. In some parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, and South and Central America, circumcision is rare among the general population.

Opinions vary among physicians regarding the need for circumcision in healthy boys. Some place great value on the benefits of an intact foreskin, including a more natural sexual response during adulthood.