What is Circumcision?
Circumcision is the surgical removal, partial or complete,
of the foreskin or prepuce of the penis.
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Effects of Circumcision
Studies reveal that circumcision helps prevent certain
infections and swelling in the penis and that it reduces the
risk of cervical cancer in female sex partners.
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Candidates for Circumcision
The common reasons males undergo circumcision are to
prevent future diseases, to follow solutions to medical
findings about their condition, and as an act of religious
dedication.
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Your
Consultation
Circumcision is best performed during the first 2 to 3
weeks after birth. But it is more common to have it done
during the first 10 days or even within the first 48 hours
of the birth of the child, and this can either be done in
the hospital or at home, depending on religious ritual
procedures. Circumcision procedures can become more
complicated as the child gets older.
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The Circumcision
Procedure
Circumcision can either be done in the hospital or at home,
depending on religious ritual procedures. It begins with
the cleaning of the penis and its surrounding area. An
anesthetic will then be injected to the base of the penis.
A special clamp or plastic ring will then be attached to the
penis, and then the foreskin is removed. An ointment or
petroleum jelly is applied to the penis after circumcision
and then it will be wrapped loosely with gauze. A
circumcision procedure usually takes only 15 minutes.
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Recovery
The penis will heal in 7 to 10 days after the procedure.
During the time of healing, the tip of the penis may seem
raw or yellowish in color, which is normal. It is all right
to wash the penis during the healing process. After every
diaper change, change the bandage and apply a dab of
petroleum jelly to the tip of the penis to avoid sticking to
the diaper. If a plastic ring is used instead of a bandage,
it will just drop off on its own within a week.
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Risks
Circumcision procedures have a few risks involved like
bleeding and infection in the circumcised area. Sometimes
the skin of the newly exposed glans becomes irritated due to
the pressure of diapers and ammonia in the urine. Petroleum
jelly or ointment is applied on the infected area when
necessary to lessen the irritation and hopefully get rid of
it completely.
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Frequently Asked
Questions
Q:
What is circumcision?
A:
Circumcision is the surgical removal, partial or complete,
of the foreskin or prepuce of the penis.
Q:
What are the benefits of circumcision?
A:
Studies reveal that circumcision helps prevent certain
infections and swelling in the penis and that it reduces the
risk of penile cancer in men and the risk of cervical cancer
in female sex partners.
Q: How
common is circumcision?
A:
One-fifth of the males worldwide are circumcised for showing
dedication to their religion and cultural beliefs.
Circumcision is usually done a couple of days after birth or
during puberty, while those having circumcision during
adulthood is usually due to medical reasons.
Q:
Are there any complications in having a circumcision
procedure?
A:
Circumcision problems are quite few, which includes
bleeding; reduced penile sensation, which is an almost
universal experience; damage to the urethra, which is urine
tube in the penis; the amputation of the glans; and
infection in the blood or septicaemia.
Q:
Can circumcision be reversed?
A:
Presently, efforts to reverse the circumcision procedure are
still unsuccessful. A patient considering a foreskin
restoration must consult a urologist.
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