Circumcision

Reasons for circumcising a baby:

  • Religious reasons
  • Health and hygiene reasons
  • To resemble the father

What does this involve?

The head of the penis (glans) is covered by skin known as the foreskin (prepuce).

During circumcision, the foreskin is loosened from the head of the penis and the excess skin is removed.

At what age?

Babies are usually circumcised within the first 10 days of life. In a hospital setting, this is often done within the first 48 hours. In the Jewish faith, circumcision is normally performed at eight days of age. The procedure can be done at any age, but healing is much easier in infants, usually within 7 to 10 days.

Medical benefits:

Urinary tract infections (UTIs):
Approximately 1% of boys under two years of age develop urinary tract infections. Within this group, UTIs are more common in uncircumcised boys.

Phimosis:
This occurs when the opening of the foreskin is too narrow, which can obstruct the passing of urine.

Recurrent balanitis:
Inflammation or infection of the foreskin.

Following circumcision, the penis should be cleaned and then protected with petroleum jelly to prevent it from sticking to the nappy. Clean gently with cooled, boiled water. Any redness, pus, or swelling may indicate infection. A small amount of bleeding is expected, but there should not be continuous bleeding or a sudden large flow of blood. If you suspect an infection or there is excessive bleeding, contact your doctor immediately.