The word circumcision means “to cut around”. In male infants, circumcision is an operation, which involves tearing the foreskin away from the glans (head) of the penis, cutting along the foreskin, than clamping the foreskin and cutting it off. The skin of the penis is a complex movable sheath with no clear indication of where it should be cut. This means that the amount of foreskin removed from one circumcision to the next can be very different, and no 2 circumcisions are the same.
Is it painful for a baby? Infants experience excruciating pain during the procedure and for weeks afterwards, and they can show behavioural changes such as frequent crying, avoidance of physical contact, reduced feeding and sleep disturbance. Adult circumcision is less painful as men can undergo general anaesthesia and receive pain relief during the post-operative period.
The risks of circumcision include bleeding, infection, damage to the glans and frenulum (a very sensitive band of tissue connecting the inner foreskin to the glans in the underside of the penis, often referred to as the male g- spot), excessive skin removal, scarring, loss of penis, and even death. Infant circumcision carries more risks than an adult circumcision, s a baby’s penis is very small and difficult to operate on, and more penile skin is removed than in adults. Tissue removal is a common problem, and this can cause painful erections and even restrict the growth of the penis at puberty.
Some research suggests that circumcised infants may have a lower incidence of urinary tract infections (UTI). Approximately 0.188% of circumcised infants and 0.702% of intact infants develop a UTI. If a UTI does occur, the most conservative treatment is with antibiotics and more rigorous follow- uo in rare cases of recurrent infections. Chronic UTIs are often the result of abnormalities in the urethra or bladder, which will usually require surgery.
The Prepure (the section of movable sheath of skin on the penis which covers and protects the glans while the penis is not erect) of most newborn boys is still adhered to the glans and cannot be retracted. Forcible retraction can result in tearing, scarring and infection, with the result that circumcision may becomes medically necessary because of foreskin damage. After the foreskin has become retractable boys can be shown how to gently retract and wash under the foreskin with water. Diluted soap can help with cleaning, but it must be thoroughly rinsed away to avoid irritation of the foreskins sensitive inner surface.
Only about 20% of men worldwide are circumcised. Circumcised men are a minority confined to the Middle East, some African tribes, Islamic regions of Asia, and the USA.
Most women are more interested in whether their partner is loving and kind than to weather he is circumcised or not.
Circumcision removes complex tissue containing thousands of highly specialised fine touch receptors and nerve fibres. The loss of sexual sensitivity is proportional to the amount of foreskin removed; a tight circumcision that prevents movement of the foreskin during intercourse and other sexual activity is particularly damaging. Men circumcised as infants may be unaware of this, but many men circumcised as adults report a definite loss of feeling and versatility.
Circumcision does not prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), but many studies claim that circumcision can reduce a man’s risk of acquiring an STD.
An Australian survey found that circumcised men had shorter erect penises than intact men, and the difference was statistically significant.
This makes good sense as many circumcisions in Australia are too severe, and a tight result can restrict growth of the penis during puberty.
Parents want to make the best decisions for the health of their children, but it can be confusing trying to make a decision with so many differing opinions and misinformation on circumcision..
To find out more about penis development please visit www.penisdevelopment101.com