A study compared the penis sensitivity of 30 circumcised males with that of 32 uncircumcised males ages 18— The study found that there was minimal difference between penile sensitivity in the uncircumcised and circumcised males. For teenage and adult males, pulling back and washing underneath the foreskin with mild soap and water, rinsing well, and then rolling back the foreskin can help maintain good hygiene.
Good hygiene of the foreskin can help reduce the risk of infections. Without regular cleaning, bacteria, dirt, and bodily fluids can all build up under the foreskin and form smegma, which looks yellow-white.
Learn about other causes of a tight foreskin in this article. In young boys, the foreskin may not retract easily. It is important to note that they should not try to force it back. A circumcised penis will not require any extra hygiene care, so people can wash the penis with mild soap and water as part of their regular bathing routine. According to a policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics AAP , circumcision can lower the risk of HIV from heterosexual intercourse and reduce the risk of other sexually transmitted infections STIs.
Also, one study found that females with circumcised sexual partners were less likely to contract STIs such as chlamydia , syphilis , and one type of herpes. The study also found that females with a circumcised sexual partner might have a lower risk of cervical cancer.
Circumcision in males with male sexual partners may reduce the risk of HIV infection, but this requires further research. Both circumcised and uncircumcised males should use condoms as often as possible during sex to reduce the risk of transmitting or contracting an STI.
There is no scientific evidence to suggest that the presence or lack of a foreskin affects fertility. The causes of male infertility relate to sperm production, which occurs in the testicles.
Repeated infections can cause blockages in the male reproductive tract. If the sperm cannot leave the testicles as normal during ejaculation, it can affect fertility. Maintaining good hygiene of the penis, as well as seeing a doctor if there are any unusual or uncomfortable symptoms around the penis or genital area, can help reduce the risk of infection.
Males may have a circumcision for cultural, religious, or personal reasons. In some cases, adult males who develop frequent infections of the foreskin may choose circumcision for health reasons.
Circumcision after the newborn period can be a more complicated procedure and usually requires general anesthesia. In some instances, doctors may decide to delay the procedure or forgo it altogether. Premature babies or those who have special medical concerns may not be circumcised until they're ready to leave the hospital.
And babies born with physical abnormalities of the penis that need to be corrected surgically often aren't circumcised at all because the foreskin may eventually be used as part of a reconstructive operation. On the plus side, circumcised infants are less likely to develop urinary tract infections UTIs , especially in the first year of life. UTIs are about 10 times more common in uncircumcised males than circumcised infants. Circumcised men also might be at lower risk for penile cancer, although the disease is rare in both circumcised and uncircumcised males.
Some studies indicate that the procedure might offer an additional line of defense against sexually transmitted diseases STDs like HIV in heterosexual men. Penile problems, such as irritation, inflammation, and infection, are more common in uncircumcised males. It's easier to keep a circumcised penis clean, although uncircumcised boys can learn how to clean beneath the foreskin once they're older.
Some people claim that circumcision lessens the sensitivity of the tip of the penis, decreasing sexual pleasure later in life. But none of these subjective findings are conclusive.
Although circumcision appears to have some medical benefits, it also carries potential risks — as does any surgical procedure. These risks are small, but you should be aware of both the possible advantages and the problems before you make your decision. Complications of newborn circumcision are uncommon, occurring in between 0. Of these, the most frequent are minor bleeding and local infection, both of which can be easily treated by your doctor.
One of the hardest parts of the decision to circumcise is accepting that the procedure can be painful. In the past, it wasn't common to provide pain relief. But the American Academy of Pediatrics AAP recommends it and studies show that infants undergoing circumcision benefit from anesthesia, so most doctors now use it.
But because this is a fairly new standard of care, it's important to ask your doctor ahead of time what, if any, pain relief your son will receive. For others, however, circumcision seems unnecessary or disfiguring. Circumcision is a religious or cultural ritual for many Jewish and Islamic families, as well as certain aboriginal tribes in Africa and Australia. Circumcision can also be a matter of family tradition, personal hygiene or preventive health care. Sometimes there's a medical need for circumcision, such as when the foreskin is too tight to be pulled back retracted over the glans.
In other cases, particularly in parts of Africa, circumcision is recommended for older boys or men to reduce the risk of certain sexually transmitted infections. The risks of not being circumcised, however, are not only rare, but avoidable with proper care of the penis. Circumcision might not be an option if certain blood-clotting disorders are present. Also, circumcision might not be appropriate for premature babies who still require medical care in the hospital nursery or for babies born with abnormalities of the penis.
Circumcision doesn't affect fertility, nor is circumcision generally thought to enhance or detract from sexual pleasure for men or their partners. The most common complications associated with circumcision are bleeding and infection. Side effects related to anesthesia are possible as well.
Before circumcision, the doctor will explain the risks and benefits of the procedure. Whether you're planning to have your son circumcised or you're pursuing circumcision for yourself, you'll likely need to provide written consent for the procedure. For newborn circumcision, your son will lie on his back with his arms and legs restrained. After the penis and surrounding area are cleansed, an anesthetic will be injected into the base of the penis or applied to the penis as a cream.
A special clamp or plastic ring will be attached to the penis, and the foreskin will be removed. Afterward, the penis will be covered with an ointment, such as a topical antibiotic or petroleum jelly, and wrapped loosely with gauze. The procedure generally takes about 10 minutes. Circumcision is similar for older boys and adults. However, the procedure might need to be done under general anesthesia, recovery might take longer and the risk of complications might be greater when done later in life.
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