Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin. The foreskin is a flap of skin that covers the tip of the penis.
Circumcision
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The procedure may be done for cultural or religious reasons. It is often done on babies in the first few days of life.
There may be some health benefits due to circumcision. Many health professionals believe these benefits are small. Circumcision may be associated with a decreased risk of:
Complications are rare. No procedure is completely free of risk. Talk to your doctor about possible complications that may include:
Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:
The type of anesthesia may depend on where the circumcision is done. Two common approaches include:
The baby will need to be very still during the circumcision. The baby may be carefully restrained on an infant board or someone will hold the baby. The anesthesia will be applied.
Once the area is numb the doctor will begin. The foreskin will be pulled away from the penis. Some parts of the foreskin may still be attached to the penis. The doctor will sweep these attachments away. The extra foreskin will then be cut away. It can be removed a number of ways:
Stitches may be needed. They will be used to sew the remaining bit of foreskin into place. Petroleum jelly or an antibiotic ointment will be smeared on the penis. A bandage may be applied. A Plastibell device, if used, will be left in place instead of a bandage. The Plastibell will fall off on its own.
About 15–30 minutes
Your baby will have some discomfort. The anesthesia should minimize pain.
After the procedure, be sure to follow your doctor's instructions. Your doctor may ask you to:
There may be a lot of swelling of the penis. You may also notice a clear scab over the area. The penis should be healing well within 7-10 days of the circumcision. If a Plastibell was used, it should fall off on its own within 10 days.
After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:
RESOURCES:
Familydoctor.org—The Academy of Family Physicians
http://familydoctor.org/
Kids Health
http://kidshealth.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
AboutKidsHealth
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/
Caring for Kids
http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/
References:
American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/pregnancy-newborns/caring-for-newborns/infant-care/circumcision.html. Accessed July 25, 2012.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Task Force on Circumcision. Circumcision policy statement. Pediatrics.1999;103:686-93.
Brady-Fryer B, Wiebe N, Lander JA. Pain relief for neonatal circumcision. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Review. 2004;3.
Circumcision. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php. Updated October 2012. Accessed July 25, 2012.
Leef KH. Evidence-based review of oral sucrose administration to decrease the pain response in newborn infants. Neonatal Network. 2006; 25(4):275-284.
Last reviewed September 2012 by Michael Woods
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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