While originally, male circumcision was practiced for religious reasons it eventually became more popular due to potential hygiene reasons. This article will take a look at the pros and cons of male circumcision to help parents make a well-informed decision on the circumcision of their up and coming bouncing baby boy.
History of Male Circumcision
Circumcision procedures have been around for thousands and thousands of years, dating back to early Egypt. It is generally practiced for religious reasons by Jewish and Muslim families. In the United States, circumcision was performed on wealthy individuals because it was thought to promote additional cleanliness (and cleanliness was associated with wealth.) Later on during World War II, the military would require men to be circumcised, again for hygiene reasons. Soldiers out on the field during war had limited access to clean water which made for unavoidable hygiene issues. Following the war, male circumcision became popular as a tradition passed from father to son. This was done mostly in an attempt to follow tradition as well as keep the boy from being singled out in situations such as the locker room.
The Cons of Male Circumcision
In general, one of the biggest cons of male circumcision is that your son has no choice in the matter. Male circumcision is performed during the first two weeks of life after birth, and not generally performed thereafter due to serious complications that can arise during and following the procedure. It is generally considered safer and easier for circumcision to be performed after or just following in the two weeks after birth.
It is also argued that it is unnecessary to remove a part of the body that functions perfectly normal. It is said that circumcision goes against Mother Nature’s idea of what the male body should look like and how it should perform.
Medical concerns include that the having the foreskin removed increases the risk of infections and irritation to the glans of the penis. Some irritation and infections could lead to swelling and ultimately to a smaller opening at the tip of the penis, resulting in urination issues. It could also cause painful erections later in life due to the unnatural state of the penis.
Some medical professionals will tell you that the surface of the glans becomes thicker and tougher which leads to less sexual stimulation. Unfortunately there is no evidence to support this theory completely as there is no way to truly test the theory.
The Pros of Male Circumcision
Removal of the foreskin by circumcision generally leads to many additional health benefits. In fact, many boys who are circumcised have a smaller risk of contracting a urinary tract infection (UTI.) Statistics show that for every one thousand circumcised boys, only one will develop a UTI, while for every one hundred uncircumcised boys one will develop a UTI. This means your child may be 10 times more likely to develop a urinary infection during the first year of his life.
While cancer of the penis is very rare, it has been shown that men who are uncircumcised are three times more likely to develop penile cancer. It is extremely, extremely rare among individuals who have been circumcised.
It has been debated that men who are uncircumcised carry a higher risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease (or STD.) Unfortunately, this belief is probably not one you should consider for your child because the chance of your child catching an STD rests solely on his actions later in life.
It is also debated that uncircumcised men risk higher rates of infection. While this may be true, this may be due to a lack of knowledge on proper hygiene for an uncircumcised penis. Whichever you decide, be sure to teach your little boy how to clean himself properly (circumcised or not) to avoid future infections.
If you opt to have your new little boy circumcised, be sure to check with your insurance company to see if the procedure is covered. Many insurance companies are no longer providing coverage for the procedure because it is now considered an optional procedure. Whichever you decide, you are the parent and know that you are making the best possible choice for your child.
