There were several studies conducted in Africa during the 1980s that suggested that those men who were not circumcised had a higher risk of contracting HIV. The studies were conducted using information from maps, high risk populations, as well as the individuals that visited STD health clinics. The information in these studies resulted in a conclusion that men who were not circumcised had a greater chance of contracting HIV through unsafe sex and other risky activities. However, several studies that were performed on random populations in Africa have shown that men who are circumcised re actually more likely to have HIV infections.

Medical literature makes this very confusing because it is frequently stated that a male’s foreskin places him at a high risk for contracting HIV. Locations in Africa that practice male circumcision found that HIV seroprevalence was much lower than in places that don’t practice circumcision in Africa. Information that could affect the study like when the individual first had sex, whether they were monogamous, and other factors were not considered. Circumcision data from the 1950s was used because it was decided that it had not changed since then. It was noticed that in areas that had high levels of circumcision also had high levels of HIV.

The idea that circumcision could help reduce the spread of HIV is not correct and it is actually dangerous to think this because it could result in males involving themselves in unsafe sexual situations.

There are other studies, like those from the WHO, that correlate HIV infection with individuals who have not been circumcised. With so much contradicting information floating around it is difficult for people to determine what is right and what is not.
The most important thing to keep in mind in regards to circumcision and HIV is that it won’t prevent an HIV infection. Males who are circumcised and those who are not should always take care to prevent themselves from being exposed to HIV and other STDs. There is no way to prevent HIV and STDs in males regardless of whether they are circumcised or not other than through abstinence.

Due to this, parents should consider the other benefits and risks of circumcision before deciding whether or not they should circumcise their child.

Many doctors have long held the belief that circumcision helps reduce the risk of STDs. This belief was based on the belief of how men handled their sexual hygiene based on whether they were circumcised or not. No evidence supported this other than opinion and many men that were involved in the US military service during the first World Wars were actually circumcised in an attempt to help them ward off any STDs.

One study has determined that men who have been circumcised males are actually at a higher risk for STDs because it has been proven these males engage in more sexually risky behavior. The majority of men in the United States are circumcised and have much higher rates of STDs and lack of condom usage that the majority of men in the United Kingdom who are intact.

In fact, there are many aspects of the intact penis that actually protect against infection rather than the other way around. For example, men who have been circumcised have mucus membranes that are dried out as compared to naturally moist membranes in intact men. What this means is that men who are circumcised have fewer natural defenses against STDs than men who are not circumcised.

The foreskin moisturizes the penis naturally so that it will stay in the best condition and healthy. Lyzosyme is an enzyme that is found in the moisture in the folds of the skin and it actually attacks and destroys bacteria cells.

Many studies have been conducted that have found no health reason for circumcision. In fact, many studies have actually found that men who are circumcised have higher frequency of STDs than non circumcised men. Men who have many sexual partners and no foreskin actually have higher levels of STDs. Interestingly, a study found that men who were circumcised had a rate of 25.4/1000 for Chlamydia while intact men had a rate of zero. Men with intact foreskin had a rate of 8.1/1000 of herpes while circumcised males had 14.9/1000. This shows without a doubt that men who are circumcised will have a higher chance of contracting an STD over their lifetime.

Parents should keep this in mind when they are considering whether or not to circumcise their child. Unfortunately, many Americans choose to circumcise simply because the neighbors do. This is a risky decision that should be considered carefully before making the decision.

Circumcision is the cutting of the foreskin from the penis so the head is no longer covered. Many people know what a circumcised penis looks like, but few know what the process entails and how much the newborn infant must suffer in order for this procedure to take place. It is actually quite disheartening that so many parents are willing to put their newborn sons through this procedure without knowing exactly what it entails and how it will affect their child. The way the circumcision is performed is outlined below.

Procedure

The circumcision begins with the penis being evaluated for any problems. As long as everything is the way it should be then the doctor will insert a clamp or ring between the head of the penis and the foreskin to separate it. The clamp will remain in place in order to protect the rest of the penis so that the foreskin may be cut away. Once the procedure is completed then the wound will be dressed and the child will be returned to his parents or the nursery. Generally, only local anesthesia is used but in some cases no anesthesia is used. The baby’s heart rate increases and is obviously in distress.

Making a Decision

It is important for parents to understand what a circumcision entails and the effects it could have on their little one. Mistakes are made and sometimes too much skin is removed and other times not enough. Similarly, other mistakes may be made that will affect the child for the rest of their life. It doesn’t make sense to circumcise a newborn baby that has no idea what is happening and then must suffer for days with an open wound that burns each time the urinate.

In rare circumstances, a child may die from circumcision or develop a serious infection that could lead to serious health problems. This is not always the case, however it does occur and people should be well aware of the problems that can occur with circumcision.

Later Circumcision

Remember, parents who choose not to circumcise their sons will still allow them the opportunity to be circumcised at a later stage in life if that is what they choose. Leaving this decision up to the child is highly recommended because once a circumcision has taken place it is impossible to return the penis to normal. There are operations that may be performed, but it is not the same.

There are many complications that may result from a circumcision. Generally, the number of significant complications that result from circumcisions are rare, however considering the fact that more than 3,000 circumcisions are performed each day means that complications will occur. Most of the complications that do arise are short term although there are others that may last for the rest of the child’s life.

Simple Complications

Complications that are minor are those that include light bleeding, pain, irritation, infection, and other similar complications. Sometimes infection may even occur because the wound is exposed to fecal matter. Checking the wound regularly and ensuring it is well cared for is important, too, and can help avoid simple complications. Many babies will experience burning and pain when they urinate because the wound is open and in the same area where the urine is released. Generally, within the first week this pain has subsided completely. Some children will have some oozing from the wound or else blood in their diaper. Generally, this will clear up on its own, too. If not, an infection could develop and it is important to contact the doctor. Most parents will be instructed to place Vaseline or another similar product on the penis in order to protect it from stool, urine, and diaper irritation.

Serious Complications

Serious complications may also occur. That is because circumcision is a surgery and things may go wrong. In some situations, too much foreskin may be removed or too little is removed. This can result in painful erections and skin bridges. Botched circumcisions can also result in ugly scars and damage could occur to the urethra or less of sexual sensation. Some situations have resulted in the penis being amputated, fatal bacterial infections, and hemorrhaging.

These are rare complications, but with thousands of circumcisions being performed each day they are actually more common than some parents would like to believe. Because of this it is so important for parents to learn about circumcisions and understand what takes place before deicing on this procedure for their son. And remember, serious complications may be rare, but that does not guarantee they will not happen to your son. When it comes to your child you may not be willing to take the risk of something happening that could potentially be serious when this is not a necessary procedure.

A circumcision may be performed on a male of any age that has not been circumcised at a prior date. However, it is most usual for a newborn child to be circumcised within a few days of his birth. Sometimes, children are not circumcised and at a later age determine that they want to be circumcised. When this occurs the male simply needs to visit the doctor and express his concerns.

Later Circumcisions

Men choosing to have a circumcision at a later date may choose the type of circumcision they want. Some of the options include loose, tight, moderate, partial, minimal, and others. There are low and high circumcisions and each man can determine what he wants and direct the doctor in that way. With babies, the doctors make the decision for the baby and sometimes too much skin is cut away, other times not enough, and frequently infections occur. Later circumcisions are painful, just as they are for newborn babies. However, older males choosing to undergo a circumcision know what the pain is from, how to manage it, and that they chose to endure this pain. Newborn babies, however, who have just gone through the stressful process of delivery have terrible pain inflicted upon them and they are unaware of why or how. This is followed by several days of painful urination and could result in other problems, like an infection, too.

Self Circumcision

There are several options for self circumcision that may be done in the comfort of one’s own home. However, there is not the option of anesthesia or a doctor on hand should something go wrong. Not to mention, this could be quite uncomfortable and may not performed correctly. It is important for individuals interested in self circumcision to think about this seriously and even consider making an appointment with the doctor to discuss the pros and cons.

These are just a few of the things people should know about circumcision. Parents who like the idea of circumcision but not the idea of having their newborn suffer through the procedure may take comfort in the fact that the procedure may be performed at a later date. Plus, it gives boys the option of making their own decision regarding their penis’ appearance and what works best for them.

The vast majority of the world does not practice circumcision as a routine procedure at birth for male babies. In fact, the rest of the world that does practice circumcision does so for religious beliefs in most cases. In the United States, circumcision began as a way to keep boys from masturbating. For some reason it was mistakenly determined that not being circumcised would lead to more masturbation and self pleasure. This was not in keeping with the idea of purity and self control that was popular in the country at the time so more and more baby boys were circumcised.

Then, the news came along that circumcision was an important method of keeping STDs at bay and even potentially reducing the risk of AIDS. Of course, parents worried about their child becoming ill at some point in the future when they became sexually active decided to circumcise their child.

Also, it was believed that circumcised penises were cleaner than non circumcised penises. In fact, parents believed that by circumcising their child he would be able to keep himself clean and lower the risk of illnesses, infections, and the like.

During this trend, the idea cropped up that circumcised penises were more attractive than non circumcised penises. So, parents did not want their sons to be made fun of in locker room showers or to be shunned by girlfriends and potential wives. As a result, circumcision became even more popular.

All of these reasons are why circumcision is so popular in the US. In other parts of the world, circumcision is not considered important and the circumcised penis is actually considered unattractive. The interesting thing, though, is that a penis when erect looks exactly the same regardless of whether it has been circumcised or not. Because of this many women may have no idea that they are with a man who has not been circumcised until after the point. In this case, it does not matter much at that point anyway.

These are just some of the reasons why parents choose circumcision over non circumcision. However, it really is important to do some research on what takes place during a circumcision and how this affects the child long term, rather than just during the period of the surgery and the recovery time frame.

Many people decide for or against circumcision before they know much about it. This is a decision that should be taken very seriously and one that is evaluated from both sides. If you are not interested in circumcision and have all the facts on why you should not circumcise your child then you may be interested in some of the reasons why you should.

The major reasons why parents circumcise their sons is because of medical reason, personal/religious beliefs, and social pressure. The procedure is fast and simple, although it likely causes slight pain to the infant. There are several benefits circumcised males experience, according to studies.

One study shows that infants who have been circumcised have lower chances of having urinary tract infections. The study found that uncircumcised boys were 10 times more likely to develop this infection. Urinary tract infection in newborns can be dangerous and lead to other infection and complications like bone marrow infection, kidney failure, meningitis and the like.

Other benefits of circumcising your son include lowering his risk for thrush, penile cancer, STDs, and the like. Currently, there are conflicting reports about whether circumcising or not circumcising will help reduce the risk of AIDS and other STDs.

Another benefit of circumcision is that boys will have less infection and irritation, like posthitis, paraphimosis, balantis, and the like. Some studies also show that women may be at risk when they have sexual partners who have not been circumcised. This is because complications in the women like ectopic pregnancy, cervical cancer, herpes, and even Chlamydia could develop.

Some doctors and parents feel that circumcising their child will allow them to care for their own body and bathe it. Parents should teach their children how to care for a penis that has not been circumcised so that they may ensure proper hygiene and reduce the risk of catching an infection.

In general, Americans find a circumcised penis more attractive, so this is a pro for circumcision. Your child will look most like the rest of his peers and will not be made fun of for being circumcised. It’s a good idea, too, for the son to look like his father.

There are many things that come into play when it comes to circumcision and the two sides. However, this is a topic that parents will need to consider and discuss to ensure they make the right decision for them.

If you are Jewish and plan on having children, you may very well choose to have your son circumcised at a Bris Milah. While circumcision is almost universal among Jews, the specifics of the celebratory ceremony vary from family to family in regards to how closely traditional ritual is followed. If you do choose to have your son circumcised at a Bris, it is important to become educated with the symbolism behind this important ritual, and know what will be expected of you as the parent of a Jewish boy.

Traditionally, a Jewish child will be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth, at a public (or private) ceremony in front of the family’s friends and relatives. The circumcision represents the covenant God made with the Jewish people long ago during the biblical age. By having all Jewish males circumcised at birth, the Jewish people renew this covenant with God and grow as a community of faith. Translated literally, the name “Bris Milah” means “covenant to cut”.

You are probably wondering what the significance the eighth day holds to the Jewish people. As you may know, Jewish believers (and believers of other faiths) believe that God created the physical world in seven days. Once a newborn has lived through a seven day cycle, he has left the physical world and begun his metaphysical connection with God. The child is now ready to accept his predestined covenant with God, which is symbolized by the circumcision procedure.

Two important people at a Bris ceremony is the mohelim, the circumciser (usually a doctor and/or a rabbi), and the sandak, the person who holds the infant during the Bris. The sandak is a very high honor given to someone who will help guide the infant throughout his life and with who he will share a spiritual connection with.

Using a form of anesthesia is varied among Jewish circumcisions, and most circumcisers (or “mohelim” as they are called in the Jewish faith) do not routinely use pain management techniques on the newborn, claiming that the technique is so quick that it is not necessary. However, if you object to this stance, the mohelim rarely protest the inclusion of pain relief for the infant into the procedure.

The Bris ceremony is not solely about the circumcision of the newborn- an equally important aspect of the ceremony is naming of the child. Some Jewish parents choose to name the newborn after a deceased relative, while others may choose to name the newborn after a living relative. In fact, some Jewish males are given more than one name in the Bris ceremony. It is all up to the desires of the parents.

Although there are risks associated with circumcision, it is extremely rare for the procedure to result in death. In fact, the statistics for death range anywhere from 1 in 500,000 to 1 in 2,000,000 newborns. What is more likely is for circumcision to cause death indirectly, through consequences that would not have developed if the child had not been circumcised. Therefore, it’s important to factor in this possibility when you are evaluating all the risks and benefits of circumcision before coming to a final decision.

The following things can all lead to death if not addressed quickly enough, even though most seem fairly minor. It’s important to remember that we are dealing with newborns that have been through a significant recent trauma, and their systems have not yet adjusted to life outside the protected womb. Blood loss, anesthetic, systemic infection, urinary tract infection (UTI), anesthesia complications, painkillers and a blocked urethra (from the circumcision ring, if applicable) are some of the indirect complications can all be fatal for an infant.

Like any surgery, bleeding (or hemorrhaging) is always a risk, and that applies most definitely to circumcisions as well. Unfortunately, the excessive bleeding can be overlooked as the diaper has the ability to absorb much of the blood before the parent or physician notices the problem. In addition, hospitals are breeding grounds for infections, and because of the location and size of the wound, infected germs can easily enter and wreak havoc on the newborn’s system. Such infections are tetanus, streptococcus, meningitis and tuberculosis, among others. General anesthesia is not allowed to be used on newborns, as it has led to death in the past. Other alternatives to a local anesthetic is lidocaine injected into the top of the penis, or the application of cream directly onto the penis- although both of these carry risks of accidental overdose which can lead to death.

Unfortunately, many infant deaths resulting from circumcision are never reported by the physician. Physicians have their career and reputation on the line, and they are not going to step forward and admit killing an infant. One of the ways that these deaths are kept quiet is how they are classified in final documentation and autopsy reports- citing “complications of anesthesia” without ever including information on the elective circumcision. It is estimated that approximately 229 infants die as a result of circumcision complications.

So remember, factor in the potential drawbacks of circumcision (including death) and talk it over extensively with your partner and/or doctor before making a final decision.

As a pregnant woman or husband whose wife is expecting, you may have found yourself thinking more about circumcision than you had ever done before. Most likely, you have been inundated with the advice of well-meaning family members and friends about their views on the practice, or even been faced with the teachings of your church or synagogue in relation to circumcision. It can be extremely difficult to come to an objective decision with societal, family, and religious pressure pulling you in different directions.

In the United States, we are led to believe that “everyone” chooses to circumcise their children as newborns. However, while this may have been true in the past (especially in the late 1960s when circumcision rates were as high as 80%), the times are certainly changing- statistics show that there are a significant number of uncircumcised males, probably as high as 40% of the total population. In addition, many of the people who are bending your ear one way or the other on the issue of circumcision are probably grossly misinformed themselves.

Most importantly, remember that a decision to circumcise your child is an extremely personal one, and many factors can influence your choice. Many people find it helpful to seek the advice of a close friend who has been pregnant with a male child, or ask their rabbi or preacher for direction on the issue. Others prefer to research circumcision on their own, visiting their local library or surfing the Internet for detailed information on the practice. It is also a good idea to bring any concerns or questions to your obstetrician, who has no doubt performed circumcision on hundreds of babies over the years and can provide extensive reading material to help you in your decision.

One of the best ways to respond to unsolicited advice on circumcision is to thank the person for sharing their own experience, but politely say that you and your significant other have already reached a decision on whether or not to circumcise and prefer that it be kept a private family matter. Many women (and men) try to mistakenly deflect attention on the subject by claiming that they have not yet made up their minds one way or the other- this approach only gives the person more incentive to convince you that their view is right.

Regardless of your decision, you should not feel ashamed in choosing to have your son circumcised or left intact. This is only the first of many hard decisions you will have to make as a mother, and you need to keep the best interest of your child at the forefront of your decision.