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Circumcision:
Information for Parents |
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Circumcision is a
surgical procedure in which the skin covering the end of the penis is
removed. Scientific studies show some medical benefits of circumcision.
However, these benefits are not sufficient for the American Academy of
Pediatrics to recommend that all infant boys be circumcised. Parents may
want their sons circumcised for religious, social, and cultural reasons.
Since circumcision is not essential to a child’s health, parents should
choose what is best for their child by looking at the benefits and risks.
This brochure answers common questions you may have about circumcision. Use
this as a guide to help you decide what is best for your baby boy. |
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What is Circumcision? |
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At birth, boys have skin
that covers the end of the penis, called the foreskin. Circumcision
surgically removes the foreskin, exposing the tip of the penis. Circumcision
is usually performed by a doctor in the first few days of life. An infant
must be stable and healthy to safely be circumcised. Many parents choose to
have their sons circumcised because “all the other men in the family were
circumcised” or because they do not want their sons to feel “different.”
Others feel that circumcision is unnecessary and choose not to have it done.
Some groups such as followers of the Jewish and Islamic faiths, practice
circumcision for religious and cultural reasons. Since circumcision may be
more risky if done later in life, parents may want to decide before or soon
after their son is born if they want their son circumcised. |
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Common Questions About
Circumcision
Is circumcision painful?
When done without pain
medicine, circumcision is painful. There are pain medicines available that
are safe and effective. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that
they be used to reduce pain from circumcision. Local anesthetics can be
injected into the penis to lower pain and stress in infants. There are also
topical creams that can help. Talk to your pediatrician about which pain
medicine is best for your son. Problems with using pain medicine are rare
and usually not serious. |
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What should I expect for
my son after circumcision?
After the circumcision,
the tip of the penis may seem raw or yellowish. If there is a bandage, it
should be changed with each diapering to reduce the risk of the penis
becoming infected. Petroleum jelly should be used to keep the bandage from
sticking. Sometimes a plastic ring is used instead of a bandage. The plastic
ring that is left on the tip of the penis usually drops off within 5 to 8
days. It takes about 1 week to 10 days for the penis to fully heal after
circumcision. |
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Are there any problems
that can happen after circumcision?
Problems after a
circumcision are very rare. However, call your pediatrician right away if:
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Your baby does not
urinate normally within 6 to 8 hours after the circumcision. |
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There is persistent
bleeding. |
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There is redness around
the tip of the penis that gets worse after 3 to 5 days. |
It is normal to have a
little yellow discharge or coating around the head of the penis, but this
should not last longer than a week |
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Reasons Parents May Choose
Circumcision
Research studies suggest
that there may be some medical benefits to circumcision. These include the
following:
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A slightly lower risk
of urinary tract infections (UTIs). A circumcised infant boy has about a 1
in 1,000 chance of developing a UTI in the first year of life; an
uncircumcised infant boy has about a 1 in 100 chance of developing a UTI
in the first year of life. |
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A lower risk of getting
cancer of the penis. However, this type of cancer is very rare in both
circumcised and uncircumcised males. |
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A slightly lower risk
of getting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV, the AIDS
virus. |
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Prevention of foreskin
infections. |
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Prevention of phimosis,
a condition in uncircumcised males that makes foreskin retraction
impossible. |
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Easier genital hygiene. |
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Reasons Parents May Choose Not to
Circumcise
The following are reasons
why parents may choose NOT to have their son circumcised:
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Possible risks. As with
any surgery, circumcision has some risks. Complications from circumcision
are rare and usually minor. They may include bleeding, infection, cutting
the foreskin too short or too long, and improper healing. |
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The belief that the
foreskin is necessary to protect the tip of the penis. When removed, the
tip of the penis may become irritated and cause the opening of the penis
to become too small. This can cause urination problems that may need to be
surgically corrected. |
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The belief that
circumcision makes the tip of the penis less sensitive, causing a decrease
in sexual pleasure later in life. |
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Almost all
uncircumcised boys can be taught proper hygiene that can lower their
chances of getting infections, cancer of the penis, and sexually
transmitted diseases. |
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What If I Choose Not to Have My
Son Circumcised?
If you choose not to have
your son circumcised, talk to your pediatrician about how to keep your son's
penis clean. When your son is old enough, he can learn how to keep his penis
clean just as he will learn to keep other parts of his body clean.
The foreskin usually does
not fully retract for several years and should never be forced. The
uncircumcised penis is easy to keep clean by gently washing the genital area
while bathing. You do not need to do any special cleansing, such as with
cotton swabs or antiseptics.
Later, when the foreskin
fully retracts, boys should be taught how to wash underneath the foreskin
every day.
Teach your son to clean
his foreskin by:
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Gently pulling it back
away from the head of the penis |
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Rinsing the head of the
penis and inside fold of the foreskin with soap and warm water |
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Pulling the foreskin
back over the head of the penis |
See the AAP brochure
Newborns: Care of the Uncircumcised Penis for more details. See your
pediatrician if you notice any signs of infection such as redness, swelling,
or foul-smelling drainage. |
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Female "Circumcision"
Female genital
mutilation, sometimes called female circumcision, is common in many
cultures. It involves removing part or all of a female's clitoris.
It may also involve
sewing up the opening of the vagina. It is often done without any pain
medicine. The purpose of this practice is to prove that a female is a virgin
before she gets married, reduce her ability to experience sexual pleasure
after marriage, and promote marital fidelity.
There are many serious
side effects, including the following:
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Pelvic and urinary
tract infections |
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Negative effects on
self-esteem and sexuality |
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Inability to deliver a
baby vaginally |
The Academy is absolutely
opposed to this practice in all forms as it is disfiguring and has no
medical benefits. |
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From your doctor
DR JON JANTZ MD
ERICCA BERRY ARNP CPNP
The information
contained in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the
medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in
treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and
circumstances.
The American Academy of
Pediatrics is an organization of 57,000 primary care pediatricians,
pediatric medical subspecialists, and pediatric surgical specialists
dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of infants, children,
adolescents, and young adults.
American Academy of
Pediatrics
PO Box 747
Elk Grove Village, IL 60009-0747
Web site — http://www.aap.org
Copyright ©1995, Updated
3/00
American Academy of Pediatrics
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