Circumcision is a heated argument these days. The majority of Americans are still circumcised but very few Europeans are. Many myths and misplaced arguments float around the circumcision debate. I have researched the general stance of the major players in the debate. It seems that the opposition is most against circumcision in principle. They believe it is cruel to perform a cosmetic surgery on an infant. They acknowledge the benefits but state that the benefits do not justify the risk. According to most sites, almost no risk exist when the procedure is done to a new born. As more evidence is gathered for the STD phenomena, we may see world wide acceptance of circumcision. The majority of studies have suggested the risk of contracting STDs is cut in half. Some have suggested that the uncircumcised are 8.5 times more likely to contract an STD. Opponents are saying the same benefits can come from safe sex and education. The neutral stance of American Academy of Pediatrics has been challenged over the last couple years. As the evidence builds, I believe circumcision will be seen as a cost effective fight against STDs. Please read the information and decide for yourself.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't consider circumcision to be medically necessary, there are some medical reasons for performing one. Those include preventing recurring infections of the head of the penis, avoiding obstruction of urine flow that can result when the prepuce's opening narrows, and preventing a tight prepuce from retracting over the glans. Also, circumcision may reduce the incidence of penile cancer (a very rare condition).
Even barring these considerations, infections, including urinary tract infections in infants, are less common in a circumcised penis. That's because a circumcised penis is easier to keep clean.
http://healthguide.howstuffworks.com/circumcision-preferences-dictionary.htm
Between 1997 and 2000, 61 percent of all newborn males in the U.S. were circumcised. One study of 58,000 infants showed that the rate of hospitalization for bladder infections among circumcised males was 1.9 versus 7.0 for uncircumcised males. Other studies have looked at HIV risk in men who were circumcised as infants, and a review of 30 such studies found that uncircumcised men were 1.5 to 8.5 times more likely to contract HIV than those who had been circumcised. Some vocal anti-circumcision groups are highly incensed by the fact that a little baby cannot consent to the procedure. However, most children don’t consent to any of their healthcare; instead, they “rely” on their parents.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/11006275
According to the BBC in the UK, routine circumcision isn't thought to be medically necessary. This is because the risks associated with having a surgical procedure that involves a general anesthetic and the possible postoperative complications outweigh any possible medical benefits.
Infection and bleeding are common after circumcision and, although usually easily treated, can be very uncomfortable and distressing for the patient and those close to him. Loss of the protection provided by the foreskin can allow abrasion of the penis head to occur. This can result in scarring and loss of physical sensation. Some teenagers and men who were circumcised shortly after birth describe feeling physically and psychologically traumatized, and robbed of the choice of whether or not to be circumcised. These problems can lead to difficulties with social and personal development if not addressed.
From a medical point of view, if a boy or man has recurrent medical problems related to the foreskin, circumcision may be advised. For example, if the foreskin is contributing to infections of the head of the penis, which will recur unless the foreskin is removed, circumcision may be recommended. Tightening of the foreskin (phimosis) can create difficulties urinating and in adulthood can make sex very uncomfortable. Circumcision may be offered, although it's no longer the only treatment option. Newer treatments available include steroid creams, stretching and preputioplasty.
It's been suggested in studies that penile cancer and transmission of the HIV infection are less likely in circumcised men. Studies in Africa have shown that men who are circumcised are less likely to contract HIV when practicing heterosexual sex than men who aren't circumcised. http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/circumcision1.shtml
National Institutes of Health published a surprising report in The Lancet showing that circumcision reduced a man's risk of contracting HIV through heterosexual sex by 51 to 60 percent compared with men who were not circumcised. The findings were based on two trials in Africa involving more than 7,500 men and were halted early because the preliminary results were so striking.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17297433/ns/health-aids
If circumcision is carried out immediately after birth, the risk of complications is very rare.
http://www.babyboomercaretaker.com/senior-health/health-risks/Male-Circumcision-Health-Risks.html
Male circumcision reduces the risk that men will contract HIV through intercourse with infected women by about 70 percent. After discovering the dramatic results, French and South African researchers halted the study about nine months in order to offer the uncircumcised men the opportunity to undergo the procedure.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8473838/
Circumcised heterosexual men are 35% less likely to contract human papillomavirus (HPV) and 25% less likely to catch herpes than their uncircumcised counterparts. The study relied on data from the same randomized control trials in Africa that already showed that circumcision cuts in half the risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123802256715541879.html?KEYWORDS=circumcision
The journal Pediatrics in November followed 510 New Zealand newborns until age 25 and found that circumcision cut the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases by about half. According to the report in the November issue of Pediatrics, circumcision may reduce the risk of acquiring and spreading such infections by up to 50 percent, which suggests "substantial benefits" for routine neonatal circumcision. The American Academy of Pediatrics has called the evidence "complex and conflicting," and has continued to take a neutral stance on the subject
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15593753/ns/health-men
The benefits of circumcision are a decreased risk of urinary tract infections; a reduced risk of sexually transmitted diseases in men; Protection against penile cancer and a reduced risk of cervical cancer in female sex partners; Prevention of balanitis (inflammation of the glans) and balanoposthitis (inflammation of the glans and foreskin); Prevention of phimosis (the inability to retract the foreskin) and paraphimosis (the inability to return the foreskin to its original location); finally Circumcision also makes it easier to keep the end of the penis clean.
The risks of circumcision are pain; Risk of bleeding and infection at the site of the circumcision ; Irritation of the glans; Increased risk of meatitis (inflammation of the opening of the penis); Risk of injury to the penis. Although risk exist they are low.
http://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/guide/circumcision
John Hopkins University has challenged the neutral stance of American Academy of Pediatrics saying it would be a huge benefit for the poor.
http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2010/01/04/should-pediatricians-recommend-routine-circumcision/?KEYWORDS=circumcision
While the American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't consider circumcision to be medically necessary, there are some medical reasons for performing one. Those include preventing recurring infections of the head of the penis, avoiding obstruction of urine flow that can result when the prepuce's opening narrows, and preventing a tight prepuce from retracting over the glans. Also, circumcision may reduce the incidence of penile cancer (a very rare condition).
Even barring these considerations, infections, including urinary tract infections in infants, are less common in a circumcised penis. That's because a circumcised penis is easier to keep clean.
http://healthguide.howstuffworks.com/circumcision-preferences-dictionary.htm
Between 1997 and 2000, 61 percent of all newborn males in the U.S. were circumcised. One study of 58,000 infants showed that the rate of hospitalization for bladder infections among circumcised males was 1.9 versus 7.0 for uncircumcised males. Other studies have looked at HIV risk in men who were circumcised as infants, and a review of 30 such studies found that uncircumcised men were 1.5 to 8.5 times more likely to contract HIV than those who had been circumcised. Some vocal anti-circumcision groups are highly incensed by the fact that a little baby cannot consent to the procedure. However, most children don’t consent to any of their healthcare; instead, they “rely” on their parents.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/11006275
According to the BBC in the UK, routine circumcision isn't thought to be medically necessary. This is because the risks associated with having a surgical procedure that involves a general anesthetic and the possible postoperative complications outweigh any possible medical benefits.
Infection and bleeding are common after circumcision and, although usually easily treated, can be very uncomfortable and distressing for the patient and those close to him. Loss of the protection provided by the foreskin can allow abrasion of the penis head to occur. This can result in scarring and loss of physical sensation. Some teenagers and men who were circumcised shortly after birth describe feeling physically and psychologically traumatized, and robbed of the choice of whether or not to be circumcised. These problems can lead to difficulties with social and personal development if not addressed.
From a medical point of view, if a boy or man has recurrent medical problems related to the foreskin, circumcision may be advised. For example, if the foreskin is contributing to infections of the head of the penis, which will recur unless the foreskin is removed, circumcision may be recommended. Tightening of the foreskin (phimosis) can create difficulties urinating and in adulthood can make sex very uncomfortable. Circumcision may be offered, although it's no longer the only treatment option. Newer treatments available include steroid creams, stretching and preputioplasty.
It's been suggested in studies that penile cancer and transmission of the HIV infection are less likely in circumcised men. Studies in Africa have shown that men who are circumcised are less likely to contract HIV when practicing heterosexual sex than men who aren't circumcised. http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/circumcision1.shtml
National Institutes of Health published a surprising report in The Lancet showing that circumcision reduced a man's risk of contracting HIV through heterosexual sex by 51 to 60 percent compared with men who were not circumcised. The findings were based on two trials in Africa involving more than 7,500 men and were halted early because the preliminary results were so striking.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17297433/ns/health-aids
If circumcision is carried out immediately after birth, the risk of complications is very rare.
http://www.babyboomercaretaker.com/senior-health/health-risks/Male-Circumcision-Health-Risks.html
Male circumcision reduces the risk that men will contract HIV through intercourse with infected women by about 70 percent. After discovering the dramatic results, French and South African researchers halted the study about nine months in order to offer the uncircumcised men the opportunity to undergo the procedure.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8473838/
Circumcised heterosexual men are 35% less likely to contract human papillomavirus (HPV) and 25% less likely to catch herpes than their uncircumcised counterparts. The study relied on data from the same randomized control trials in Africa that already showed that circumcision cuts in half the risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123802256715541879.html?KEYWORDS=circumcision
The journal Pediatrics in November followed 510 New Zealand newborns until age 25 and found that circumcision cut the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases by about half. According to the report in the November issue of Pediatrics, circumcision may reduce the risk of acquiring and spreading such infections by up to 50 percent, which suggests "substantial benefits" for routine neonatal circumcision. The American Academy of Pediatrics has called the evidence "complex and conflicting," and has continued to take a neutral stance on the subject
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15593753/ns/health-men
The benefits of circumcision are a decreased risk of urinary tract infections; a reduced risk of sexually transmitted diseases in men; Protection against penile cancer and a reduced risk of cervical cancer in female sex partners; Prevention of balanitis (inflammation of the glans) and balanoposthitis (inflammation of the glans and foreskin); Prevention of phimosis (the inability to retract the foreskin) and paraphimosis (the inability to return the foreskin to its original location); finally Circumcision also makes it easier to keep the end of the penis clean.
The risks of circumcision are pain; Risk of bleeding and infection at the site of the circumcision ; Irritation of the glans; Increased risk of meatitis (inflammation of the opening of the penis); Risk of injury to the penis. Although risk exist they are low.
http://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/guide/circumcision
John Hopkins University has challenged the neutral stance of American Academy of Pediatrics saying it would be a huge benefit for the poor.
http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2010/01/04/should-pediatricians-recommend-routine-circumcision/?KEYWORDS=circumcision
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