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 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says the benefits of circumcision outweigh the risks. However, the AAP doesn’t recommend routine circumcision for all male newborns. The AAP leaves the circumcision decision up to parents — and supports use of anesthetics for infants who have the procedure.

Circumcision might have various health benefits, including:

• Easier hygiene
• Decreased risk of urinary tract infections
• Decreased risk of sexually transmitted infections
• Prevention of penile problems such as phimosis
• Decreased risk of penile cancer and reduced risk of cervical cancer in female partners

Risks

The most common complications associated with circumcision are bleeding and infection. Side effects related to anesthesia are possible as well.

Rarely, circumcision might result in foreskin problems, such as:

• The foreskin might be cut too short or too long
• The foreskin might fail to heal properly
• The remaining foreskin might reattach to the end of the penis, requiring minor surgical repair

After the Procedure – Contact Doctor If:

• Normal urination doesn’t resume within 12 hours of the circumcision
• There’s persistent bleeding
• There’s foul-smelling drainage from the tip of the penis
• The plastic ring remains in place two weeks after the circumcision