Before circumcision, the foreskin covers the tip of the penis glans. After circumcision, the tip of the penis is exposed. Circumcision is the surgical removal of the skin covering the tip of the penis. The procedure is fairly common for newborn boys in certain parts of the world, including the United States. Circumcision after the newborn period is possible, but it's a more complex procedure. For some families, circumcision is a religious ritual. The procedure can also be a matter of family tradition, personal hygiene or preventive health care. 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.
Why circumcision is carried out in boys
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Whether you're expecting a baby boy or have just welcomed your new little guy into the world, you have an important decision to make before you take your son home: whether to circumcise him. For some families, the choice is simple because it's based on cultural or religious beliefs. But for others, the right option isn't as clear. Before you make a circumcision decision, it's important to talk to your doctor and consider some of the issues. Boys are born with a hood of skin, called the foreskin, covering the head also called the glans of the penis. In circumcision, the foreskin is surgically removed, exposing the end of the penis. Parents who choose circumcision often do so based on religious beliefs, concerns about hygiene, or cultural or social reasons, such as the wish to have their son look like other men in the family. Routine circumcision is usually performed during the first 10 days often within the first 48 hours , either in the hospital or, for some religious ritual circumcisions, at home.
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Circumcision of baby boys is an optional surgical procedure to remove the layer of skin called the foreskin or the prepuce that covers the head glans of the penis. It is most often done during the first few days after birth. Parents who decide to circumcise their newborn boys often do so for religious, social or cultural reasons. Ask for up-to-date information about the potential medical benefits and risks of circumcision. Problems resulting from the surgery are usually minor. Although serious complications are very rare, they do occur. These can include:. The risk of complications is lower in young babies than in older children. To minimize the risks, the procedure should be done by a trained and experienced practitioner using a sterile technique. Someone should follow up with you in the days after the procedure to make sure that bleeding has not increased.
Male circumcision is an operation to remove the foreskin that covers the tip of the penis. The functions of the foreskin include protecting the head of the penis and contributing to sexual sensations. While recent research suggests that circumcision may bring some medical benefits, some doctors believe these are too small to justify surgery. A medical circumcision is a circumcision performed to treat a disease, such as pathological phimosis lichen sclerosis , recurrent balanitis or recurrent urinary tract infections.
