Circumcised Vs Uncircumcised - The Medical Facts
Health Implications That Affect Circumcised and Uncircumcised Boys
Jun 2, 2009
Unless you are doing so for religious reasons, it is very difficult to understand if circumcising your newborn boy is the right thing to do. Circumcision, as well as the decision not to circumcise, both come with possible health implications, things to consider before you decide for your son.
Urinary Tract Infections
It is believed that by removing the foreskin it is easier to clean the penis and therefore less chance of getting a urinary tract infection. Research has shown that uncircumcised boys are 10 times more likely to get a urinary tract infection.
However, when you look closer at the numbers it is based on 1.1 percent of uncircumcised boys getting a UTI and .1 percent of circumcised boys, which are both very low percentages, and that is usually only in the first year of life. Adolescent men and adult men under 50 rarely have a UTI, regardless of whether they are circumcised or not.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Researchers feel that circumcision lowers the risk of contracting and passing on sexually transmitted diseases. Research published in April 2009 by the South African Medical Research Council proved that adult male circumcision reduced the risk of men acquiring HIV infection from heterosexual sex by 51 to 60 percent. The belief is that circumcision helps to protect against HIV by removing cells in the foreskin to which the virus is specifically attracted.
Two other studies in 2008 and published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases suggest that circumcision may assist in the prevention of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, particularly infection with the high-risk subtypes that cause cervical, penile, and other cancers. A 2009 study in the New England Journal of Medicine also concluded that circumcision can significantly reduce the risk of acquiring human papillomavirus (HPV), as well as the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), the cause of genital herpes.
Phimosis and Paraphimosis
There are two conditions only an uncircumcised boy can get. One is phimosis where the foreskin cannot retract because the opening is too narrow. For the majority of boys this is by the age of 5, but if by the age of 8 the foreskin is still not retractable, a doctor should be consulted. Chances of getting phimosis are about 5 percent. The second condition is paraphimosis where the foreskin retracts but cannot go back. This occurs mostly in children and elderly men. In both these cases, circumcision may be necessary.
Staph Infections and Hemorrhage
Circumcision is a surgical procedure and therefore not without possible complications. The two most common complications are bacterial sepsis (a bacterial infection in the bloodstream) and hemorrhage (where a baby loses more than 20 percent of its blood). These conditions occur in about 1 to 2% of all circumcisions.
Circumcised boys are also more subject to a form of bacterial sepsis, called Methicillin Resistant Staphyloccus Aureus (MRSA), after the surgery. This is a form of staph that is resistant to antibiotics and is a life threatening infection, especially for a young infant. When a baby boy is circumcised, there is always a chance that staph may enter through the open wound in his penis. Since staph is carried on a lot of people’s skin, the infant may contract it anywhere from the hospital nurse to his own parents once he leaves the hospital. A report in the April 2007 issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology showed that circumcised newborn boys were 12 times more likely to get MRSA.
A hemorrhage is defined as excessive bleeding. During the procedure if a blood vessel is cut, it can result in a hemorrhage. In some rare cases, a blood transfusion is needed as a result of a circumcision-related hemorrhage.
As you can see, circumcision is not an easy decision for a parent to make. If you do decide to circumcise, make sure you research the entire procedure and how to properly tend to your son afterward. If you do not circumcise, ensure your son understands the importance of good hygiene.
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