The Medical Pros and Cons of Circumcision
Pros of circumcision:
Lower risk of balanoposthitis (inflammation of the skin of the penis from trauma or poor hygiene) and possibly a reduced risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
Reduced risk of penile cancer. Research has shown that 2 out of 89 men who suffered from invasive penile cancer (over a 43-year period) had been circumcised. (Keep in mind: Penile cancer is extremely rare and only occurs in 1 in 100,000 men.)
Prevents paraphimosis (a serious condition that occurs if the foreskin gets stuck when it's first retracted). (Many cases of balanoposthitis and paraphimosis are thought to be caused by well-meaning caregivers who attempt to pull the foreskin back. If the foreskin is left untouched, the combination of spontaneous erections and masturbation are usually enough to loosen the foreskin.)
Simpler hygiene.
Newborn circumcision is not as risky as circumcision later in life.
Cons of circumcision:
Most infants recover from the trauma of circumcision quickly. Generally, within 24 hours of the surgery, their behaviors are indistinguishable from the behaviors of their uncircumcised counterparts. However, there may be some repercussions down the road, based on whether the newborns were circumcised with or without anesthetic: Researchers have found that young boys who were circumcised without anesthetic experienced increased pain and fear during their childhood immunizations.
There are complications in approximately one in 476 circumcisions. While bleeding is the most common complication, minor infections occur, as well. However, both complications are almost always simple to treat. In rarer cases, penile damage can occur. Remember: Circumcision is not advisable for infants who are sick, premature, or who have a penile abnormality.
Most of the time, circumcision is not medically necessary—which is why the procedure may not be covered by your insurance.
Note: Circumcision has long been regarded as an effective way to lower the risk of developing urinary tract infections, but recent research shows that the chances of an uncircumcised baby developing a UTI are low. Researchers found that uncircumcised boys were only 3.7 times as likely to develop a UTI as circumcised boys. (Previous studies claimed that the risk was a mind-boggling 39 times!)
Keep in mind: Circumcision is an irreversible choice that your son may regret down the road.
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