Male Circumcision
SIDE
NOTE
Some religions require male circumcision. In these cases,
circumcision is usually performed on the 8th day of life.
Newborn levels of vitamin K peak on the 8th day. Vitamin K
helps the blood to clot, which is especially important when subjecting
your new son to a surgery. If you choose to circumcise before
the 8th day, it is well advised to administer vitamin K to prevent
bleeding complications from the surgery.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RATIONALE:
When not completed for religious reasons, there is no medical basis for circumcision. It is strictly a cosmetic procedure. It was not until WWII that circumcision became routine for soldiers to prevent infections from unsanitary conditions. Its practice then spread to newborns thereafter. The US is the only country that practices routine circumcision.
REALITY:
There is no medical evidence to support health benefits of routine circumcision. This is a controversial topic. I’ll put it right out there: I believe routine, cosmetic circumcision to be barbaric, genital mutilation. I don’t have anything good to say about it. There are no pros, only cons. I’m sorry if that offends you, but this opinion comes from a systematic review of the literature, which clearly supports my view.
For a full review of circumcision, including how it is performed, visit
www.circumcision.org
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) no longer supports circumcision. Please read their full text position statement here:
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics%3b103/3/686
Documented risks include:
- INTOLERANCE TO PAIN AT 6 MONTHS POST-SURGERY
- INTERFERENCE WITH BREASTFEEDING AND FEEDING IN GENERAL
- IMPOTENCE
- INFECTION
- CHORDEE (CURVATURE TO ONE SIDE)
- FOURNIER’S SYNDROME
- STAPHYLOCOCCAL SCALDED SKIN SYNDROME
- PEYRONIE'S DISEASE
SIMPLE SOLUTIONS
Don’t Do It!If the only reason is “so he’ll look like Daddy”, please reconsider this decision.
References
Brady-Fryer B, Wiebe N, Lander JA. Pain relief for neonatal circumcision. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD004217. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004217.pub2.
British Association of Paediatric Surgeons, Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Royal College of Surgeons of England and Royal College of Anaesthetists. Statement on male circumcision. London: Royal College of Surgeons of England, March 2001.
M Fox and M Thomson. A covenant with the status quo? Male circumcision and the new BMA guidance to doctors. London: JME 2005; 31; 463-469.
Pain and Your Infant: Medical Procedures, Circumcision and Teething, University of Michigan Health System, February 2007. Retrieved July 18, 2007.
Weiss, HA; Thomas, SL; Munabi SK; Hayes RJ (Apr 2006). "Male circumcision and risk of syphilis, chancroid, and genital herpes: a systematic review and meta-analysis". Sex Transm Infect 82 (2): 101-9. PMID 16581731.
Fergusson, DM; JM Lawton and FT Shannon (April 1988). "Neonatal circumcision and penile problems: an 8-year longitudinal study". Pediatrics 81 (4): 537–541. PMID 3353186. Retrieved on 2007-07-18.
Giving Birth Naturally: Newborn Baby Care: Male Circumcision
