Circumcision: What You Need to Know

Abstract

Parents have different opinions about newborn male circumcision based on medical, religious, cultural, and ethnic traditions and personal reasons. Some parents choose circumcision. Some parents do not choose circumcision. Parents who are undecided should talk with their child’s doctor before their baby is born. They can learn about the benefits and risks of circumcision to help them choose what is best for their baby. Here is more information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) about circumcision.At birth, males have skin that covers the end of the penis, called the foreskin. Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin, exposing the tip of the penis. Circumcision is usually performed by a doctor in the first few days after birth. The surgery should be done under sterile conditions with adequate pain management. (See Is circumcision painful?) A newborn must be stable and healthy to safely be circumcised. Because circumcision may be riskier if done later in life, parents should decide before or soon after their baby is born if they want it done.Yes. However, there are pain medicines that are safe and effective. The AAP recommends that they be used to reduce pain from circumcision.After the circumcision, the tip of the penis may seem raw or yellowish. If there is a bandage, it should be changed with each diapering to reduce the risk of infection. Use petroleum jelly to keep the bandage from sticking. Sometimes a plastic ring is used instead of a bandage. This should drop off within 5 to 8 days. The penis should be fully healed in about 1 week to 10 days after circumcision.Problems after a circumcision are very rare. However, call your child’s doctor right away if If you choose not to have your baby circumcised, talk with your child’s doctor about how to keep the penis clean. Keep in mind that the foreskin will not fully retract for several years and should never be forced. When your child is old enough, they can learn how to keep their penis clean just as they will learn to keep other parts of their body clean. Female genital mutilation has sometimes been called female circumcision, although it has no known medical benefits and causes many known harms, both medical and psychological. It involves removing part or all of a female’s clitoris. It may also include sewing up the opening of the vagina. It is often done without any pain medicine. The purpose of this practice is to prove that a female is a virgin before marriage, reduce the ability to experience sexual pleasure, and promote marital fidelity. There are many serious side effects, includingThe AAP is absolutely opposed to this practice in all forms because it is disfiguring and has no medical benefits.Visit HealthyChildren.org for more information.The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists, and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.In all aspects of its publishing program (writing, review, and production), the AAP is committed to promoting principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion.The information contained in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.