YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH/GENITAL, GROIN AND URINARY TRACT PROBLEMS: CIRCUMCISION
Circumcision is a simple surgical procedure in which the foreskin, which covers the tip of the penis, is removed. Whether a boy should be circumcised continues to be a subject of debate among parents and health professionals. While exact figures are not available, probably about one third of boys in Australia are circumcised, mostly in the newborn period, although the tendency for this procedure to be done is gradually decreasing.
Arguments for circumcision
1. Cultural or religious practice, for example in the Jewish or Muslim faiths.
2. Hygiene — a penis without a foreskin is easy to clean.
3. Medical reasons (see Foreskin, problems with the, opposite).
4. Prevention of certain conditions. Circumcision is said to decrease the risk of cancer of the penis, urinary tract infection, and perhaps sexually transmitted disease and cancer of the cervix in females although there is no hard evidence for these claims.
5.To be the same as father or peer group. The argument becomes less persuassiveas the number of circumcised boys decreases, and is probably not as important as once thought.
Arguments against circumcision
1. The procedure as performed in the newborn causes significant pain and behavioural changes, such as irritability, which can persist for some time (often days).
2. It is contraindicated if there is a medical condition such as a bleeding disorder or hypospadias, which is an anatomical abnormality of the tip of the penis.
3. There is a small but definite risk of complications, such as bleeding, infection, taking off too much or too little skin.
Ultimately, whether or not to circumcise their child is a decision for parents to make after considering the advantages and disadvantages. While circumcision for religious and cultural reasons continues, routine circumcision is performed less and less. If you are uncertain, you may want to discuss your doubts with the doctor.
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