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There is always a hot debate around circumcising your boy. Medical experts agree that the risks associated with circumcision for non-medical reasons outweighs benefits.
In Australia, public hospitals don’t perform circumcision operations unless there is a Medical reason for it. Whereas in the western countries such as The United States, most boys are circumcision at birth.
If you choose to circumcise your son, make sure it is done safely and with adequate pain control.
What’s circumcision? It is an operation to remove some skin or tissue from the genital of a boy or girl. In Australia, it is illegal to circumcise girls. So here we are only referring to circumcision for boys.
At birth, most boys have a sleeve of skin covering the end of penis, this protective sleeve is called foreskin. During circumcision, this foreskin is cut away, exposing the head (glans) of penis.
Circumcision is sometimes done few days after birth. It can be done later, when the boys reach adolescent or during adulthood.
The foreskin is joined to the underlying glans. It cannot be pulled back. The foreskin continues to cover and protect the sensitive glans during childhood. And generally will gradually separate from the glans And eventually expose the glans during childhood.
If a boy is circumcised, after the circumcision the scar is healed. And the appearance of the glans depends on how much foreskin was circumcised. There is not special care needed after the circumcision.
Usually boys can cope with the difference of their uncircumcised to other circumcised buddies. So you don’t need to worry to much about your son as mostly boys won’t bother So much on the appearance of their penis.
Some of the main reasons to not circumcise your boy’s foreskin are:
1. Short terms problems include bleeding.
2. Long term problems include issues with urination and appearance of the penis as a result of how and which part of the foreskin was cut.
3. In rare cases, these problems can lead to damage to the urethra, gangrene, loss of the penis, or even death.
There are physical and ethical reasons for not having your son cicumcised：
1. The foreskin is a natural part of a boy’s body. It’s rich in nerve endings and has a big role in sexual sensation, play and functioning as boys grow older.
2. The foreskin protects the opening of the urethra, which is very delicate In early life.
3. Boys should be able to make decision on their own buddies. And it is does not make sense that circumcision for boys are allowed but for girls it is illegal.
Benefits of circumcision before puberty are:
1. It reduces the risk that a baby boy will get a urinary tract infection (UTI). Especially in the first year of a child’s life. Severe or recurrent UTIs can lead to kidney damage or even sepsis (a bloodstream infection).
2. It prevents foreskin issues including foreskin inflammation, phimosis, and foreskins that are too tight in puberty.
For older boys and men, circumcision has some benefits:
1. It helps to protect men against HIV and AIDS and possibly some other sexually transmitted infections. But it’s important to remember that circumcision is not a preventative for sexually transmitted infections.
2. It helps to protect men against the rare condition of cancer of the penis.
3. It decreases the risk of cervical cancer in the female partners of circumcised males.
Some parents might also choose circumcision for religious or cultural reasons – for example, Jewish or Islamic customs.
Many experts include the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand, and state health departments have concluded the risks associated with circumcision outweighs benefits. Circumcision in healthy boys may cause more problems.
If you choose to circumcise your boy, the best is to have it performed under Medical setting. The procedure usually takes 10-20 minutes. Recovery period is about 7-10 days with the right care include bathing at least one to two times a day, and gently handling, and repairing the sensitive circumcised area.
If you are concerned about whether to circumcise your boy, ensure you consult with Medical professionals include your General Practitioner and Paediatrician, so that you can make an informed decision.