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Should My Baby Be Circumcised?
From the team at Urology Associates Medical Group in Burbank, California, congratulations on your pregnancy or newborn son. We know that for parents of baby boys, one of the first health care decisions you must make is whether to circumcise your infant.
Circumcision is a medical procedure that involves removing your baby’s foreskin — the skin that covers the end of the penis — to expose the tip. While circumcision rates are declining in other countries, it remains a popular choice in the United States, and over 70% of adult men have had the procedure.
Our urological providers want to help you make an informed choice about circumcising your baby. We put our heads together and created this informative piece to help guide you when making your decision.
Why consider circumcising my baby?
The decision to circumcise your baby is a personal one. While in decades past, having your baby circumcised was standard procedure for male newborns, today parents consider circumcision carefully.
Some parents may opt to circumcise their baby for cultural or religious reasons. Others may feel it’s better for their son aesthetically. You may also consider medical reasons to circumcise your baby, including significantly lower risks of:
- Urinary tract infections (three times lower)
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- Genital warts on the foreskin
- Lichen sclerosus
- Phimosis (issues retracting the foreskin)
Being circumcised also makes it easier to clean and keep the penis clean.
Are there risks associated with circumcision?
As with any surgical procedure, circumcision brings a few risks, including bleeding and/or infection at the surgical site and irritation at the end of your baby’s penis.
Some of our patients also wonder if removing the foreskin affects the sensitivity of the penis, diminishing sexual pleasure later in life. There’s no evidence to support this argument.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the benefits of circumcision far outweigh any possible risks.
Can my son get circumcised when he’s older?
Yes! At Urology Associates Medical Group, we specialize in the circumcision of older boys and adult men. We simply use a local anesthetic to numb the penis, then place a sterile clamp over the head so we can safely remove the foreskin.
While there’s some discomfort after circumcision, most older boys and men tolerate it well. We advise you about any over-the-counter pain medications you or your son can take to ease the discomfort.
Who can I talk to if I have more questions about circumcision?
Many parents first discuss circumcision with their pediatricians. This is a good place to start, but if you have questions or concerns about circumcision, it’s best to speak to a specialist.
Our urology team at Urological Associates Medical Group is happy to meet with you and discuss circumcision in more detail. Ultimately, the decision to have your baby circumcised is a family one that you should make with reliable information in hand.
Learn more about circumcision and whether it’s right for your baby by scheduling an appointment at Urological Associates Medical Group in Burbank, California.
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