Should Boys be Circumcised?

Recommend (0) Comments (3)

Let's look at the REAL facts, not the imaginings and humdrum of the anti-circ movement:

Infant male circumcision is very safe, very simple, quick, cheap, convenient at that age, and virtually pain-free by use of a local anesthetic. The nonsensical claim by NOCIRC of 100 deaths per year in the USA serves to expose their whole diatribe for the ridiculous propaganda that it is. Of course, like any surgery, there are risks. But these are tiny - as can be seen in the data below:

Risks of circumcision
o For 1 in 500 circumcisions there may be either a little bleeding - easily stopped by pressure or, less commonly, requiring stitches (1 in 1000), the need for repeat surgery (1 in 1000), or a generalized infection that will require antibiotics (1 in 4000). Although there can be a local infection, often what seems like a local infection is actually part of the normal healing process.

o Serious complications (requiring hospitalization) are rare - approximately 1 in 5000.

o Mutilation or loss of the pe.nis, and death, is virtually unheard of for circumcisions performed by a competent medical practitioner. Ensure your doctor is experienced.

o If a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia runs in the family, then the doctor needs to be advised since circumcision may require special preoperative treatment.

o Anesthetic is imperative, preferably a local, since a general anesthetic carries risks, and is unnecessary. For age 0-4 months a local, not general, and for older children or teenagers a mild sedative might be considered in addition to the local. Young children who wriggle can be gently restrained. For pain after the anesthetic wears off, an oral analgesic medication is often prescribed.

o Delay means stitches being used for circumcision of older children, teenagers and men, although tissue tape or tissue glue can be requested.

o If circumcision is delayed past 4 months, total cost will become increasingly greater.

Overall:
Circumcision confers a lifetime of medical benefits. 1 in 3 uncircumcised boys will develop a condition requiring medical attention. NOT getting circumcised means various degrees of suffering and, in rare cases, death. During or very soon after the circumcision, risk of an easily-treatable condition is only 1 in 500, and of a true complication is a mere 1 in 5000. A successful circumcision (just about all) is very unlikely to have any long-term adverse consequences.

If one compares the benefits and risks (almost all minor and immediately treatable) one can see that the benefits exceed such 'risks' by over a hundred to one!