The Circumcision Debate: To Snip or Not to Snip?
Pros and cons
The Circumcision Debate: To Snip or Not to Snip? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which previously had more of a neutral policy on circumcision, revised its policy statement in August 2012 in greater favor of the procedure. "New scientific evidence shows the health benefits of newborn male circumcision outweigh the risks of the procedure," the AAP said. "But the benefits are not great enough to recommend routine circumcision for all newborn boys." According to the AAP, approximately 1.2 million newborn males are circumcised in the U.S. every year. Although rates vary by region, this number represents roughly 55 to 65 percent of baby boys. However, in recent years, this common, widely accepted practice has become a hot topic of debate in many households. So what's the issue?
Pros
Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin that covers the tip of the penis. This procedure dates back to prehistoric times, and is one of the oldest surgical operations known to have been performed by humans.
Circumcision has been found to have some medical benefits, such as a reduced risk for urinary tract infections (UTIs), especially in the first year of an infant's life. According to the Nemours Center for Children's Health Media, UTIs are about ten times more common in uncircumcised babies than circumcised babies. Some studies have also suggested circumcision might offer an additional line of defense against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV. The journal Pediatrics published a study that found circumcision can reduce the risk of contracting an STD by up to 50 percent. Another study published by the National Institutes of Health found circumcision can cut the risk of contracting HIV by up to 60 percent. And, although penile cancer is rare, it is less common in circumcised males than those who are uncircumcised. In addition, it is easier to keep a circumcised penis clean, reducing the risk of penile irritation, inflammation, infection, and other problems.
Cons
On the other hand, circumcision is a painful surgical procedure, and therefore carries some potential risks. Some of these risks include minor bleeding, cutting the foreskin too short or too long, improper healing, and the possibility of an infection. According to the AAP, wound infections occur in less than 1 out of 200 circumcised boys. Local anesthesia can block nerve sensations during the procedure, helping to reduce an infant's pain and discomfort. The AAP recommends the use of pain relief measures for any baby having a circumcision.
However, although circumcision carries potential risks and benefits, it is neither essential nor detrimental to a boy's health. Like the AAP's former policy on circumcision, issued in 1999, their 2012 policy statement maintains that the benefits of circumcision are not strong enough to consider it a routine procedure for all newborn males. The AAP, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), says that there is not sufficient data to medically recommend or oppose the procedure. These groups do not endorse circumcision as a way to prevent any medical conditions and take the stance that the decision should be left up to the parents.
by: Lindsay Hutton
The debateIndeed, having a boy circumcised is up to the parents to decide and can depend on a number of issues. Sometimes, the decision to circumcise is based on family tradition and whether the father had the procedure as a child. Circumcision can be performed for any number of other reasons, including religious rituals, personal hygiene, or preventative health care.
Opinions on whether a child should be circumcised vary greatly. Proponents for the procedure believe the warm, moist area under the foreskin is a breeding ground for bacteria and infections; opponents argue that it's an individual's lifestyle, behavior, and cleaning habits, not the foreskin, that have the biggest impact on health. And although proponents point out that circumcised babies have fewer UTIs, opponents argue that these are easily treatable with antibiotics, and a circumcision is a drastic measure to take for such a curable illness. As for penile cancer, proponents believe it is a sensible step to help reduce a boy's chances of contracting the disease, but opponents argue this type of cancer is extremely rare, and compare it to giving a young girl a mastectomy to avoid someday getting breast cancer. In addition, some don't agree with the idea of "disfiguring" a child's penis by removing a part he was born with.
In the end, it's a personal decision that should be discussed and agreed upon by both parents. Some have the procedure done as soon as their baby is born, others opt not to, and still others leave the decision up to their child to make when he is older. (Although there is additional debate as to whether waiting can increase the pain and trauma to the child.) There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to circumcision. What's important is to know the all the facts, and make a decision based on what you think is best for your child.
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