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FAQ » Faq about Baby Circumcision |
| 1. What is circumcision? |
| Circumcision is a surgical operation to remove the foreskin which is the specialised skin covering the head of the penis. |
| 2. Does the foreskin have any function? |
| The foreskin has an important protective function in the first two years. It is impossible to pull the foreskin back at birth because it is completely stuck onto the head of the penis. This protects the head of the penis from nappy rashes, which can affect the unprotected head if your baby is circumcised. |
| 3. What do you advise about circumcision? |
| Circumcision is often performed for religious reasons. Apart from this, there are very few medical reasons for performing a circumcision. |
| 4. I am concerned about the cleanliness of the penis. |
| This is a common concern but you need not worry as the foreskin looks after itself. Remember that the foreskin is completely stuck onto the head of the penis, which makes it impossible for dirt, urine or faeces to accumulate under the foreskin.
The foreskin can only be retracted when it becomes unstuck from the head of the penis. Generally this occurs from the age of two but this varies widely. It is best not to forcibly pull the skin back or you might split the foreskin and damage it. |
| 5. Are there any dangers to circumcision? |
| The most common complications arising from Circumcision are infection and bleeding. It is Impossible to keep a circumcised penis sterile after the operation and it is not uncommon at all for the circumcised penis to become infected because it comes in contact with faeces and urine. Occasionally, it can result in life-threatening infections if the infection spreads.
Removing the foreskin also places the head of the penis at risk as it loses its protective covering. An ulcer can form around the urinary opening, leading to a narrowing of the opening (meatal stenosis) which in turn requires another operation to correct. Excessive bleeding can also occur from the operation site. Occasionally, a child bleeds sufficiently to require an emergency blood transfusion. Circumcision is a surgical operation and there are always risks associated with this. Although anaesthetics are considered to be very safe today, there are risks associated with the administration of anaesthetics. |
| 6. When is the best time to circumcise my son if I still want to? |
| The best time to circumcise your baby is probably after he is six months old when your baby would have a more developed immune system, be less prone to infection and is over the worst of his nappy rashes. Children at that age also recover from operations much more quickly than older ones. |
| 7. Are there any conditions under which you would advise against circumcision? |
| There are some. If your child suffers from haemophilia, a condition in which there is difficulty in stopping the bleeding, you must not have him circumcised. If your child has an abnormality of the penis called hypospadias where the foreskin is deficient and the penile opening may be further up the penile shaft, it is important that he should not be circumcised. Later repair of the hypospadias may well become impossible. |
