Circumcision is a religious or cultural ritual for many American, Jewish and Islamic families, as well as certain aboriginal tribes in Africa and Australia. Circumcision can also be a matter of family tradition, personal hygiene or preventive health care. Sometimes there's a medical need for circumcision, such as when the foreskin is too tight to be pulled back (retracted) over the glans. In other cases, particularly in parts of Africa, circumcision is recommended for older boys or men to reduce the risk of certain sexually transmitted infections/diseases.
(Source: Mayo Clinic)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/circumcision/about/pac-20393550
There is a lot of propaganda and false information going around over the topic of male circumcision, much of it rooted in an anti-Semitic nature. The vast majority of medical professionals and medical science journals in the United States recommends and supports the pros of infant circumcision. Anti-science activists (known as intactivists) push an angenda with passionate and misleading information against circumcision that goes against collected data and medical research. Many of the numbers, statistics, facts and charts they present do not have a reputable medical origin. Instead many are self-made by the intactivist community with false figures to mislead the gullable. Let's start looking at real sources for information and considering the real benefits as well as the real risks of circumcision.
To start: “The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) found that the health benefits of
newborn male circumcision outweigh the risks .” (WebMD, AAP, MayoClinic) The AAP leaves the circumcision decision up to parents — and supports use of anesthetics for infants who have the procedure.
-The most commonly known benefit to circumcision is the significant decrease in the risk of UTIs (Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics, WebMD, MayoClinic, Sciencebasemedicine.org). UTIs are very common in uncircumcised males, yet fairly uncommon in circumcised males. Severe infections early in life can lead to kidney problems later. (MayoClinic) If there is blood in your child's urine contact their pediatrician immediately.
- A reduced risk of some
sexually transmitted diseases in men. (WebMD, MayoClinic) Circumcised men might have a lower risk of certain sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Still, safe sexual practices remain essential. (MayoClinic)
-Protection against
penile cancer and a reduced risk of
cervical cancer in female
sex partners. (WebMD) Penile Cancer is far less common in circumcised men, exceedingly rare in fact. In addition, cervical cancer is far less common in the female sexual partners of circumcised men. (MayoClinic)
-Prevention of
balanitis (
inflammation of the glans), balanoposthitis (
inflammation of the glans and foreskin), and other penile disfunctions. (WebMD, MayoClinic)
-Prevention of
phimosis (the inability to retract the foreskin) and paraphimosis (the inability to return the foreskin to its original location). This is a very common issue for uncircumcised children, however, can happen to adults as well. Occasionally, the foreskin on an uncircumcised penis can be difficult or impossible to retract (phimosis). This can lead to inflammation of the foreskin or head of the penis. (MayoClinic) Phimosis can lead to the necessity to later circumcise the child, or an adult.
-Easier Hygene: Circumcision makes it easier to keep the penis clean, preventing a cheese-like gunk substance known as smegma. However, boys with uncircumcised penises can be taught to thoroughly and regularly wash beneath their foreskin. (Sources: WebMD, MayoClinic) Not all little boys are clean, and some take more work than others. Circumcision simply makes cleaning the penile area a convenience, and less awkward situation for parents with growing children. Make sure your young sons who are uncircumcised properly clean beneath their foreskin once it is retractable; help them as needed. "Some of the arguments for circumcision are unavoidably intertwined with hygiene. The warm, moist space under the foreskin is a prime breeding ground for bacteria, it can harbor sexually transmitted disease organisms, and it produces a cheese-like, foul-smelling substance called smegma. It is plausible that this could contribute to infections in the man and his partner, and even to cancer. Many studies support that idea. There doesn’t seem to be any good evidence comparing circumcised men to uncircumcised men who practice meticulous hygiene. It’s difficult to sort out whether it is the circumcision itself or just improved hygiene that makes the difference. Circumcision undoubtedly facilitates hygiene."
(Sciencebasedmedicine.org)
"Some studies show that good hygiene can help prevent certain problems with the penis, including infections and swelling, even if the penis is not circumcised. In addition, using a
condom during
sex will help prevent
STDs and other infections(that are more common in uncircumcised men)." ~WebMD
