Circumcision probably isn’t something you think about every day. That is, unless you’re about to welcome a new baby boy into your family.
Then - regardless of whether it’s something you’ve always known you’d have done or it’s something you’re still undecided about - you probably want to learn more about the procedure itself and all that goes along with it.
What is Circumcision?
Male circumcision is the surgical removal of the skin that covers the tip of the penis. This piece of skin is known as the foreskin.
The practice of circumcision dates to ancient Egypt. It was believed to help males keep the area clean. While that’s true, circumcisions today are done mainly for religious or cultural reasons. In the U.S., about 55 percent of new-borns are circumcised shortly after birth. Others have the surgery later, but some never have it.
Preparing for Circumcision
If you want to circumcise your baby, talk it over with the doctor who will do the procedure. That can be a paediatrician, family doctor, urologist, neonatologist, or even a paediatric surgeon.
Your doctor will explain the risks and benefits of the surgery. This is your chance to ask any questions you have about the procedure. Once you’re satisfied, you’ll sign an informed consent form giving your permission for the surgery.
What Happens During Circumcision
If the procedure happens when your son is a new-born, they’ll be awake during their circumcision. It most likely will happen in the hospital. They’ll be placed on their back, with Velcro bands or other restraints used to keep their arms and legs still.
The doctor will clean the penis area with antiseptic, then inject an anaesthetic to the base of the penis to ease the pain. Sometimes doctors apply the pain reliever as a cream instead. Your doctor will also recommend swaddling them after the procedure by wrapping them up tightly with a blanket or having them suck on a pacifier dipped in sugar water. Your baby also may be given acetaminophen for pain.
Three different kinds of clamps or plastic rings are used for circumcision: the Gomco clamp, the Plastibell device, and the Mogen clamp. But the procedure is similar for all. The clamp or ring is attached to the penis and the doctor clips off excess foreskin. The ring stays on and will fall off later. The doctor then applies an ointment like petroleum jelly to the penis and wraps it in gauze. It’s usually over in about 10 minutes. If it’s done in the hospital, your baby should be ready to go home in a few hours.
The Potential Benefits of Circumcision
If your baby is circumcised, the penis becomes easier to clean for parents (and ultimately for the child), which helps reduce the risk of infection from bacteria. Other potential benefits include:
near elimination of lifetime risk of penile cancer
more than 90 percent reduction in the risk of urinary tract infections (UTI) during infancy
reduced incidence of balanitis, an infection of the glands or head of the penis, and posthitis, an infection of the prepuce (the skin covering the head of the penis)
elimination of phimosis (inability to retract the foreskin)
Most researchers generally accept that circumcised men are less likely to acquire and transmit HIV and some sexually transmitted diseases. However, if your child is not circumcised, he can do well by learning to fully pull back his foreskin around the time of toilet training and taking care to keep the entire penis clean with soap and water every day.
The Risks of Circumcision Like any surgical procedure, circumcision has some risks. These are rare but include:
bleeding, which is usually a small amount. Be sure to tell the doctor know about any bleeding disorders in the family, as these can cause more significant bleeding after a circumcision.
infection, which is usually mild and easy to treat
more skin or less skin removed than planned
scar tissue forming
Some people feel that circumcision may lessen the sensitivity of the tip of the penis, decreasing sexual pleasure later in life. This has not been proven in studies to date. One known downside of circumcision is pain. In the past, it wasn't common to give pain relief to infants for a circumcision. But now pain medicine is recommended to help keep them comfortable. This can be a cream put on the penis beforehand, or medicine injected into the area to numb it for the circumcision. Both types wear off soon, so you can give acetaminophen to keep your baby comfortable after the procedure. Giving a pacifier dipped in sugar water and swaddling also can help babies be calmer and more comfortable.
What to Expect Afterwards After their circumcision, your baby may be fussy and irritable. Hold them carefully so you don’t put pressure on their penis. The tip may be sore, and the penis itself may look red and swollen. You may see a yellow crust on the tip as well. This is normal and should go away on its own in a few days. It will take a week to 10 days for your son’s penis to heal completely.
It’s fine to wash their penis as it heals. You should change their bandage with each diaper change, applying a dab of petroleum jelly first so it doesn’t stick to their diaper. Around 48 hours after the procedure, the bandage is usually not put back on once it comes off. Lubricant, though, should still be used to keep the penis from sticking to the diaper. If stool gets on their penis, gently wipe it away with warm, soapy water. To ward off infection, change their diaper often and fasten it loosely.
When to Call Your Doctor Most of the time, babies recover from circumcision without problems. Only about 1 percent have complications. Contact your doctor if:
Your baby doesn’t pee within 12 hours of the circumcision.
You see blood on their diaper larger than the size of a quarter.
Redness or swelling around their penis gets worse, not better.
You see signs of infection, like pus.
Foul smelling, cloudy drainage comes from the tip of their penis.
The plastic ring used during circumcision hasn’t fallen off after 2 weeks.
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