Circumcision

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Circumcision - series

Foreskin

Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis. It is often performed in healthy boys for cultural or religious reasons. In the U.S., a new born boy is usually circumcised before he leaves the hospital. Jewish boys, however, are circumcised when they are 8 days old.

Foreskin removal; Removal of foreskin

A numbing medication (local anesthesia) is usually applied before a circumcision to reduce pain. It might be injected at the base of the penis, in the shaft, or applied as a cream.

There are a variety of ways to perform a circumcision. Most commonly, the foreskin is pushed from the head of the penis and clamped with a metal or plastic ring-like device.

If the ring is metal, the foreskin is cut off and the metal device is removed. The wound heals in 5-7 days.

If the ring is plastic, a piece of suture is tied tightly around the foreskin. This pushes the tissue into a groove in the plastic over the head of the penis. Within 5-7 days, the plastic covering the penis falls free, leaving a completely healed circumcision.

The baby may be given a sweetened pacifier or lollipop during the procedure. Tylenol (acetaminophen) may be given afterward.

In older and adolescent boys, circumcision is usually done under general anesthesia while the child is completely asleep. The foreskin is removed and stitched onto the remaining skin of the penis. Stitches that dissolve (absorbable sutures) are used and will be absorbed within 7 to 10 days. The wound may take up to 3 weeks to heal.

In some faiths, including Judaism and Islam, circumcisions are performed on all baby boys as a religious rite. In other parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, and South and Central America, circumcision is rare in the general population.

The merits of circumcision are currently under debate, and opinions about the need for circumcision in healthy boys vary among physicians. Some place great value on the benefits of an intact foreskin, including a more natural sexual response during adulthood. Rather than routinely recommending circumcision for healthy boys, many physicians allow the parents to make the decision after presenting them with the pros and cons.