Like many religions, Christianity depends on the interpretation of its believers, and beliefs can actually vary widely from faith to faith. Circumcision has always been a controversial subject when it comes to religion, with some proponents saying it is mandated by the Bible and others claiming the procedure has more to do with medical reasons than religious propaganda. However, it is your job as a parent to figure out the balance between is best for your child as opposed to your religious beliefs. In an ideal world, the two would align together and form a perfect solution, but that is not always the case.

The ritual of circumcision actually differs from the Old to the New Testament. In the Old Testament, circumcision is a symbolic ritual that seals the covenant between Jewish men and God. Circumcision is how you “proved” you were one of God’s people. In the New Testament however, this bond between believer and God is more about accepting and believing in the redeeming nature of Jesus Christ- it is more of a spiritual ritual than a physical one.

So you are probably wondering which covenant is best- and you are the only one that can answer that question. Realistically, the decision regarding circumcision is probably a combination of both, and may be influenced in part by other issues as well- personal, societal, cultural, and medical. Since Christians are no longer living under Old Testament law, circumcision is no longer a requirement for Christianity, or “proof” that you are a good Christian. The decision to circumcise your child is one that must be based on your Christian duty to love, protect and nurture your son, therefore doing everything you can to ensure his good health and long life. No matter what you decide, circumcision is a very personal and sometimes private choice, and you do not have to validate your reasoning to fellow Christians if you do not wish to do so.

Many Christians take the opinion of the medical community quite seriously when thinking of circumcising their child. The medical community, while it does not view the procedure as routine, does admit there are slight benefits associated with having a circumcised penis, including a lower number of urinary tract infections as infants, and a decreased risk of getting sexually transmitted diseases when he becomes sexually active. However, there are also Christians that feel the potential for medical benefits are not high enough to justify putting a child at risk for complications from a major surgery so soon after the trauma of childbirth.

Whatever your feelings may be, it is important you discuss them with your partner before your child is born. Many parents turn to the advice of their preacher or pastor to help them make a decision they can feel comfortable with as Christians.

If you are Jewish, you know that making the decision to circumcise your newborn is a very personal decision you and your partner make with God on behalf of your son. But even though your decision is a joyous one, you probably have many questions about the procedure and may even have some anxiety about the impending event.

In the Jewish culture, circumcision is referred to as “brit milah”, meaning “covenant of circumcision” and is a symbol of the biblical conversation that took place between God and Abraham. Unlike routine circumcisions that take place at the hospital less than a day after a child is born, Jewish circumcisions take place on the eighth day of a child’s life in a sacred, religious ceremony with family and friends present to witness the celebration. During the circumcision ceremony, the infant is welcomed into his own personal covenant between God and the Jewish people. After the circumcision has taken place, everyone is invited to partake in a celebratory meal which is referred to as seudat mitzvah.

The ceremony is always performed by a “mohel”, which means “circumciser”, who is almost exclusively a male (although more modern, conservative Jewish practices do sanction the use of female circumcisers). Regardless, the mohel is usually a physician and/or rabbi who have been specially certified in the necessary medical training in addition to the religious rituals of the procedure. If translated literally from the Bible, the role of the mohel was to be filled by the father of the newborn, but understandably enough, most fathers feel uncomfortable in such a role, not to mention lack the required experience and training to ensure the procedure is safe to the newborn. This mohel fills this need. A recent controversy that has come to light is the practice of “metzitzah b’peh”, which is when the mohel sucks blood from the fresh wound- seen as a form of cleansing the wound. There have been many complaints over this practice recently for social and health reasons, especially because of the potential for spreading of disease from the mohel’s mouth to the infant.

Some mohels claim to favor certain techniques over others, one being the Mogen clamp, usually because they feel one method is more similar to traditional rituals than another. It is also widely acknowledged that Jewish ritual circumcisions are faster and therefore possibly less traumatic for the infant- on average; a mohel completes circumcision of the infant in approximately 10 seconds.

You should feel comfortable approaching your rabbi and/or physician about circumcising your infant, and take the opportunity to have your questions answered and concerns addressed before the birth of your child.

The debate over “to circumcise or not to circumcise” is one that has been going on for decades, and you probably have your own conflicting feelings over the practice. Opinions are mixed over which is the best for newborns, but only you can make the best decision for your child. None of the world’s leading medical organizations and associations has made circumcision mandatory for newborns- the only exception to this stance is when the procedure is medically necessary.

Like any surgical procedure, there are risks and complications involved, although the chances are minor in circumcisions. Some newborns experience short term side effects such as steady bleeding and local infection, both of which are generally mild. Irritation can also occur.

In some cases, the physician may under or over estimate the amount of foreskin to remove, resulting in the remaining foreskin being too short or long to heal properly, or the foreskin may reattach itself to the end of the shaft, both of which require corrective surgery. Removing too much skin from the shaft of the penis can make erections extremely painful and sexual intercourse unpleasant and the removal of insufficient amount of foreskin can require an additional operation. It is also possible that small bits of skin tissue may fuse together between the foreskin and the head of the penis, called skin bridges, which can directly cause curved erections, pain upon stimulation, and even minor bleeding. Other complications that can develop as a result of circumcision are skin tags, scarring, and unevenness. There are more potentially serious complications, including accidental glans amputation, serious infection, hairy shaft, metal stenosis, de-gloving, among others. Although it is extremely rare, circumcision can even cause death in some cases.

While it has not been officially documented, some people claim that circumcision is responsible for decreased sensitivity of the penis, and that leaving the foreskin’s sensory tissue fully intact ensures pleasurable sexual sensation. You are probably also concerned with the pain your newborn will feel both during and after the procedure, which is an understandable and true concern. Research and studies have shown that crying, as well as an increase in both heart rate and blood pressure, are all indications that the infant is experiencing stress and discomfort. Even with pain management and treatment available, it is impossible for newborns to communicate verbally with us in regards to their pain levels.

Cost may be a significant factor in your decision to not circumcise your newborn. Coverage of the procedure is not universal among health insurance plans, which means the cost would be have to be paid directly by out of pocket. Last but certainly not least, circumcision is also a reflection of personal beliefs and preferences- both aesthetically speaking and in regards to cultural or religious belief.

Deciding whether or not you should circumcise your newborn is an extremely personal decision, and not one to be made lightly. Talking with your obstetrician about his or her experience in performing circumcisions and getting their advice regarding the best optimal health of your child is a great way to start.

However, there are many reasons that parents choose to circumcise their newborns, and most fall under personal beliefs, religious traditions, and/or medical reasons. Relatively speaking, circumcision is a simple surgical procedure whose benefits outweigh any converse effects. The medical benefits for circumcised males are plentiful.

Circumcised newborns have a lower chance of developing Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), which can occur up to 10 times as much in uncircumcised newborns, in addition to having less urological problems in general. Because UTIs can be traumatic on newborns, complications can lead to kidney failure, meningitis and bone marrow infection, all of which can be fatal in some cases. Other medical reasons have a much longer shelf life, with circumcision making men less vulnerable to penile cancer, thrush, and STDs, including HIV, syphilis, and gonorrhea. The rate at which uncircumcised males develop penile cancer is over 20 times higher than circumcised males, a condition that can require amputation at best and is fatal at worst. General irritation, inflammation and infection of the genitals are more common with uncircumcised males, resulting in uncomfortable conditions such as balanitis, posthitis, phimosis and paraphimosis. Surprisingly enough, even women are at risk for complications if their sexual partner is not circumcised- including cervical cancer, chlamydia, genital herpes, ectopic pregnancy, and even infertility.

Some parents feel that circumcision leads to better genital hygiene, and feel it is easier to keep an infant’s circumcised penis clean and later teach their son how to do the same. Socially speaking, circumcised males experience fewer problems in achieving erections, especially during the crucial sexual development period of puberty. And one cannot disregard the aesthetic reasons for electing this procedure, as there is a pervasive social preference for a circumcised penis, which many women (and men) find more attractive.

It is even possible that your child may end up developing a condition that will require circumcision as treatment later in life, when the cost will be more expensive, the experience more traumatic, the procedure less convenient, and the result not as cosmetically appealing as when it is done as a newborn. Overall, the decision to circumcise your newborn will give your child many medical, health and sexual benefits throughout their lifetime.

Whether you are a mother considering a circumcision for your newborn, or an adult male considering circumcision for yourself, scarring is most likely one of the important factors in making your decision. When physicians or other healthcare providers speak of a “circumcision scar” they are referring to the permanent mark that is created when the skin of the shaft and inner foreskin merge together during the healing process. This mark usually encircles the shaft, and may have different texture or even coloring than the rest of the skin. If you are considering circumcision, it will be important to familiarize yourself with the types of techniques that are used in the procedure, as the size and prominence of the resulting scar will depend on the technique chosen. Some techniques include the Plastibell, the GOMCO clamp, and freehand with a scalpel, and the circumcision scars will vary accordingly. Some people mistakenly think the circumcision scar is the area of the penis that has conflicting skin color shades, but in actuality, this is merely the difference between two layers of skin- the inner and outer foreskin layers.

When circumcision is performed on adult men, the resulting scar can usually be found 1-1.5 inches from the glans of the penis, at the edge of the remaining foreskin that wasn’t removed during the procedure. However, it is not uncommon for circumcision to leave little or no scar on the shaft of the penis, which is usually the case with newborn circumcisions.

Of course, like any surgical procedure, circumcision has its risks- one such complication is excessive scarring, which can be both painful and disfiguring for some men. Another complication that can occur with a circumcision scar is a chance for penile cancer or preputial stenosis, although neither of these are common. Some men have reported problems with irritation or swelling of their scars, especially noticeable during sexual intercourse.

If the potential for a scar is making you avoid the procedure altogether, it’s important to point out that there are creams that have been shown to make the circumcision scar decrease significantly in visibility. Another option is a process known as “foreskin restoration”. During this procedure, done either through tissue expansion or grafting skin, the circumcision scar becomes totally hidden underneath the stretched or regrown foreskin over the shaft of the penis. Other men have used silicone scar pads to help fade the appearance of a circumcision scar.

Regardless, you should always talk to your physician about any questions or concerns you have regarding circumcision, and it is always a good idea to reach out to other parents or patients who have had experience with the procedure.

Deciding to have your child circumcised is a very difficult one and no doubt very concerning to new parents. It’s extremely important to raise any concerns and questions with your obstetrician before your child is born, so that you are fully prepared for the procedure and know what to expect.

At its most basic definition, circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin from the penis. It is a natural part of a boy’s anatomy to be born with this foreskin, a folded area of the skin that covers the lower shaft of the penis and hangs over the head. The original purpose of the foreskin is to protect the head of the penis, sometimes referred to as the glans. The amount of foreskin varies in size from newborn to newborn, and can be almost nonexistent to a noticeably large overhang. The purpose of circumcision is to remove this fold of skin so that the end of the penis is exposed.

The process of removing the foreskin surgically can be done using a variety of techniques, although the choice is usually driven by the physician’s preference and/or experience. The most popular methods are the Plastibell device, the GOMCO clamp, or the Mogen clamp, although others might use the Tara-Klamp method, the Ross circumcision ring, the Yellen clamp, the Sheldon clamp, or with a scalpel alone.

Regardless of the technique employed by the physician, there is a basic procedure followed during circumcision. The doctor will first review the existing foreskin and determine the amount that will be removed during the procedure. Then, the physician will open up the foreskin (through the preputial orifice) in order to inspect the glans (or head of the penis) and confirm that everything is intact and normal. It is at this point that the surgical process can begin. Using the appropriate instrument, the inner lining of the foreskin is stripped from the glans and the chosen device (Plastibell, GOMCO clamp, etc.) is placed under the foreskin area until bleeding has ceased. The device also helps serves to protect other parts of the penis from the surgical process. Once the area is no longer bleeding, the foreskin can be completely removed. All in all, the removal of the foreskin from the penis takes approximately 15 minutes. The removed foreskin can actually be used in various healthcare initiatives, such as skin grafts, B-interferon based drugs, skin-care products, and biomedical research.

If you are considering having your child circumcised, you probably have many questions about the procedure and its impact on your newborn. In addition, you have probably wondered what the cost implications will be, if any, and may have even sought the advice of other friends and family members who have had experience with the procedure.

You will find that the cost estimates for newborn circumcisions vary greatly, with factors such as physicians, insurance companies, and geographic location all factoring into the equation. For the most part, the costs of a circumcision are covered by private insurance and Medicaid, with a small percentage funded by individuals. Most obstetricians will circumcise the newborn as part of the overall delivery service and care, but rough estimates for the procedure averages $165 out of pocket (within a range of $100 to $250.) However, these costs do not take into account hospital fees, supplies, and anesthesia- in the end, total costs can be upwards of $1750. It’s important to point out that if you should choose to have a circumcision later in life; the costs are going to be much higher (although this is much less common).

Recently the AAP declared circumcision an unnecessary procedure, therefore classifying it as cosmetic, which has prompted many insurance companies to deny coverage for newborn circumcisions. This ruling particularly had an effect on Medicaid coverage, with 16 states creating restrictions on Medicaid-covered circumcisions unless it is determined to be medically necessary. As more states follow this trend, it will become up to the individual parents to make the financial commitment to perform this procedure, which may lead to an overall decrease in circumcisions across the US.

However, when you weigh the cost of a circumcision procedure against the cost to treat medical conditions that may develop later in life as a result of not performing a circumcision, you not only break even, but might even come out ahead! Treatment for conditions such as Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), phimosis, balanoposthitis, penile cancer, prostate cancer and even HIV/AIDS, are extremely expensive/costly and require long term care, which cost significantly more money than performing a circumcision at the very beginning.

The best way to prepare for any costs involved in the circumcision of your newborn is to talk with your obstetrician beforehand. The doctor might even have you follow up with your private health insurance (if applicable). By doing both of these things, you are ensuring that you are given the most accurate estimate when it comes to the circumcision of your newborn.