Circumcision is a surgical operation involving the removal of the foreskin from the penis, a practice that has spanned numerous cultures for centuries. Typically done in the first few weeks following birth, some parents choose to circumcise their newborns for cultural, religious, or health reasons, while others question the utility and ethics of the practice. Before making the decision one way or another, it’s worth considering the pros and cons of circumcision.
What are the Pros and Cons of Circumcision?
Pros of Infant Circumcision
- Hygiene Benefits: Many people choose circumcision for easier genital hygiene. Removing the foreskin prevents dirt and sweat from getting trapped and prevents foreskin infections.
- Reduced Risk of Infections: Studies indicate that circumcised infants have a lower risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) compared to uncircumcised infants. 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.
- Lower Risk of STDS: Studies from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have shown that circumcision significantly reduces the risk of acquiring and transmitting sexually transmitted infections including HIV, genital herpes, HPV, and syphilis.
Cons of Infant Circumcision
- Pain and Discomfort: like any surgical procedure, the infant circumcision operation may be painful. To mitigate some of the discomfort, doctors will inject a local anesthetic to numb the pain during the operation.
- Possible Complications: While complications are rare, they can include infection, excessive bleeding, cutting the foreskin too short or too long, and improper healing.
- Lack of Medical Need: While studies suggest that circumcision reduces the risk of some infections, some have argued that the risk is already low and that boys can be taught proper hygiene to lower the risks of infection, cancer, and STIs.
Current evidence suggests that the health benefits of newborn male circumcision outweigh the risks and that the procedure’s benefits justify access to this procedure for families who choose it. However, existing scientific evidence is not sufficient to recommend routine circumcision.
To circumcision or not? Because the procedure is not essential to a child’s current well-being, we recommend that the decision to circumcise is one best made by parents in consultation with their pediatrician. Their decision should take into account what is in the best interests of the child, including medical, religious, cultural, and ethnic traditions.
