If Your Baby Is a Boy .Circumcise Or Not?

If your baby is a boy….circumcise or not?

You will be asked if you want him circumcised. This decision can be a very emotionally charged one for parents and will often require much discussion and research. It is very helpful to think carefully before your baby is born so that you will have reached a decision before the emotional events surrounding labor and delivery happen.

What is circumcision?

Baby boys are born with a covering (the foreskin) over the sensitive end (glans) of the penis. A circumcision is an operation to remove this skin, leaving the end of the penis uncovered.

Why are circumcisions done?

Circumcisions are done for many reasons. Moslems and Jews perform circumcisions for religious reasons. Other families choose to have their sons circumcised so that the babies will look like their fathers or for medical reasons.

What are the medical benefits off circumcision?

Infants who are circumcised have a decreased risk of developing urinary tract infection during the first year of life. The risk of a baby boy developing a urinary tract infection is about 1 in 100 if he is not circumcised and about 1 in 1000 if he is circumcised. Infants who develop urinary tract infections often need to be hospitalized for intravenous antibiotics.

Cancer of the penis and cervical cancer in women are usually caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Men who have been circumcised are much less likely to acquire infections with HPV, and so they have a markedly reduced risk of developing cancer of the penis.

There is some evidence that men who are circumcised are less likely to acquire other sexually transmitted diseases, but circumcision should never be relied upon to prevent infection.

Circumcision is not required by law and is not medically necessary.

How are circumcisions performed?

Circumcisions of newborn boys can be performed using one of three different instruments: the Gomco clamp, the Plastibell, and the Mogen clamp (used by Jewish mohels). The baby’s penis is usually anesthetized with an injection of lidocaine and a slit is made in the top of the foreskin to allow the clamp or bell to be placed over the glans to protect it during the operation. Then the foreskin is cut or tied. The procedure usually takes 15-30 minutes.

What are possible complications of circumcision?

Because circumcision is an operation, there is a slight chance of complications (problems). The most common problems are bleeding and infection, but in large studies of thousands of infants who were circumcised, these problems are very rare. There is also the possibility that the foreskin may be cut too short or too long or may heal improperly.

How would I care for my baby’s penis if he is not circumcised?

When you take your baby home, you do not need to do anything special. Once you start bathing your baby, the penis will be cleansed just like the rest of his body. After your baby is about two years old, you can gently try to pull back the foreskin while you are bathing him. If the foreskin moves easily, wash the end of the penis and carefully place the foreskin back over the glans. If you cannot pull the foreskin back-don’t worry. This is perfectly normal and you can try again in a few months. By 5 years of age, about 90% of boys will have foreskins that can be moved back. Just as you teach your son to wash his hands and face, you will teach him to clean his penis as he gets old enough.