Circumcisions are one of the most frequently performed surgeries in the United States, if not the most frequent. Estimates suggest that there are over 3,000 circumcisions done every single day. If you’re a parent, you should be comforted by the fact that complications from circumcisions are quite rare, and those that do develop are almost exclusively short term.

Minor complications may include pain, slight bleeding, infection or irritation, all of which can be easily treated when caught early. It is a good idea to be vigilant in inspecting the wound site for any of these issues, so you can track any improvements or worsening to relate to the physician. It is common for your child to experience pain when urinating for the first time, as the urine is going through the same opening that was used to remove the foreskin. This pain should lessen over time, usually by the fourth or fifth day it is gone entirely. If your child does not urinate within the first 10 to 12 hours, you should contact your doctor. Another minor complication is a small amount of blood on your child’s diaper or slight oozing from the wound site. Both of these things should clear up within a few days as long as the problem does not worsen. Sometimes a minor infection can develop around the wound site, or along the opening of the urethra, which usually means that a small amount of bacteria made contact with the circumcision site. Many physicians instruct parents to place petroleum jelly on the tip of the penis in order to lessen chance for irritation when the penis comes into contact with urine, stool, or the diaper.

This isn’t to dismiss the possibility for more serious complications, but it’s important to understand that these are also rare. Like any surgery, circumcision can have serious risks, and surgical errors do sometimes occur. Some long term complications are the result of too little or too much foreskin being removed during the procedure, which can lead to skin bridges and pain during erections, or a condition called phimosis which can require corrective surgery. In addition, unattractive or excessive scarring of the penis can occur from botched procedures, the outer layer of the foreskin may be accidently amputated, the urethra could be damaged during surgery, and some men even report a loss of sensation during sexual intercourse. While these are extremely rare, there have been cases in which the penis had to be amputated, excessive bleeding or hemorrhaging which required stitches, and even fatal bacterial infections that infiltrated blood and tissue.

Like any surgery, it is important to go over any potential complications with your physician before the birth of your child so you can be prepared to make an informed decision.

Posted in Circumcision

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