By: Connie Limon
Are you trying to decide whether or not to have your baby boy circumcised?
Circumcision is fairly common in the United States. It involves the surgical
removal of the skin covering the tip of the penis. For some parents,
circumcision is a religious ritual. For other parents circumcision is to help
with personal hygiene or preventive health care. Still yet other parents feel
the procedure seems unnecessary.
In this article, review the pros and cons of having your baby boy circumcised.
There are benefits and negatives to the procedure. The American Academy of
Pediatrics says the benefits are not strong enough to recommend routine
circumcision for all male newborns. The decision is left up to the parents. They
also support use of pain relief for infants who have the procedure.
The benefits of circumcision may include:
Easier hygiene: Circumcision may make it easier to wash the penis. It is
simple to clean an uncircumcised penis as well.
Decreased risk of urinary tract infections: Risk of urinary tract infections
in the first year may be decreased. Urinary tract infections may be up to 10
times as common in uncircumcised baby boys. Severe urinary tract infections
early in life can lead to kidney problems later on.
Decreased risk of penile cancer: Cancer of the penis is very rare. It is less
common in circumcised men.
Decreased risk of sexually transmitted diseases: Circumcised men may have a
slightly lower risk of certain sexually transmitted diseases that includes HIV
which causes AIDS, and HPV which causes genital warts.
The negatives of circumcision may include:
Surgical risks: Excessive bleeding and infection are uncommon, but possible.
Foreskin may be cut too short or too long to heal properly. Sometimes the
remaining foreskin reattaches to the end of the penis and minor surgery may be
needed to correct it.
Pain: Circumcision is painful. Local anesthesia blocks nerve sensations during
the procedure.
Permanence: After the circumcision it may be impossible to re-create the
appearance of an uncircumcised penis.
Expense: Insurance companies may not cover the cost of circumcision.
Circumcision care:
It takes about seven to 10 days for the penis to heal. There may be a noticeable
yellowish mucus or crust. A small amount of bleeding is common the first day or
two. Daily care includes:
Washing the penis as it heals
Change the bandage with each diaper change
Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to the tip of the penis so it wont
stick to babys diaper.
Although problems after circumcision are rare, you should call your doctor if:
Baby does not urinate normally within six to eight hours after the
circumcision
Persistent bleeding or redness around the tip of the penis
Tip of penis is swollen
You suspect an infection. An infection may manifest as a foul-smelling
drainage from the tip of the penis, or crusted sores filled with fluid.
Source: Mayo Clinic
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to
be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use the
information in this article to diagnose or treat any health problems or
illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult
a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your
childs condition.Written by: Connie Limon. Visit us at
www.babiesandtoddlers1.com About Babies and Toddlers is a collection of
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