The decision to circumcise your baby

You just gave birth to an adorable baby boy and family members are visiting you and the baby in the hospital. Your mother says it would be best not to circumcise the baby but your mother in law says otherwise. Your husband is silent and would rather not discuss it because the impact of him being a first time father is too much at the moment.— Sounds familiar? Oh if only your baby boy could talk and answer for himself!

Circumcision- surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis.

Procedure:

1. The doctor uses a plastibell which squeezes the foreskin between a plastic ring and a tight string so that this rim of foreskin dries, shrivels and later falls away.

OR

2. The doctor uses a metal clamp (gomco). It takes about 15 minutes and then the penis is wrapped in gauze covered with petroleum jelly. It will be sore for a few days and the tip of the penis will look dark and scratched with perhaps a bit of yellow mucus appearing. In a few days, the baby will be back to normal.

Main Advantages:

• Improved cleanliness
• Less risk of cancer of the penis
• Less risk of phimosis (inability to retract the foreskin)
• Less risk of balanoposthitis (inflammation of penis and foreskin)
• Less risk urinary tract infections
• Possibly less risk of transmitting sexual transmitted diseases (including HIV and cervical cancer)
• Looks like father (if dad is circumcised)
• Religious requirements (e.g. Jews, Muslims)

Disadvantages:

• Surgical risks (bleeding, infection, damage to penis)
• Pain
• Not really medically necessary
• Possibly diminished sexual sensation

Personally, due to cultural influence my sons are circumcised or will still be circumcised. Circumcision in the Philippines is part of an adoloscent’s coming of age. As a nurse, I believe that circumcision on a whole scale level would benefit the child until he becomes an adult. Since you are the parent/s, it is your decision either to have your baby circumcised or not. Either way, the child is still this precious little being that God gave to you… circumcised or not.