Generally, circumcision is performed on infant babies, but it’s also performed on consenting adults, for medical, hygienic, religious, or cosmetic purposes. Circumcision is also recommended for urinary flow issues like retention or recurring yeast infections in the penis, as it can help prevent further infections. Circumcision does not help prevent any sexually transmitted infections. You should only get circumcised by a licensed physician or a mohel with a good record and experience. Under no circumstances should you ever attempt to circumcise yourself, as one small mistake can be dangerous.
Your genitals will be cleaned and prepped for surgery, and you will be anesthetized using a dorsal nerve blocker. [1] X Research source A cut will be made in the foreskin on the upper side of the penis using scissors, while a second slit will be made on the underside of the penis, cutting away the foreskin around the rim of the ridge under the glans. The edges of the foreskin will be pulled back and the blood vessels will be tied off using stitches or diathermy, which involves using electrical currents to essentially cauterize the ends of the vessels. Finally, the penis will be bandaged tightly to aid in the recovery period. If you’re an adult, the edges of the foreskin may be stitched together. [2] X Research source
Circumcision reduces the risk of urinary tract infections by up to 90%. [4] X Research source Circumcision reduces the risk of balanitis, penile cancer and prostate cancer, and reduces the risk of HIV infection by 60%. Circumcision reduces the risk of high risk HPV, and cervical cancer in female partners. [5] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Circumcision does not eliminate your chance of getting an STI. Make sure you practice safe sex and always use a condom. Also keep in mind that there are alternative ways of treating and preventing infections and cancer. Penile cancer is also rare. In less common cases, circumcision is also performed to correct phimosis, or constricted foreskin, acute inflammation of the glans as a result of balanitis, or paraphimosis, which involves a restricted foreskin. [6] X Research source
As an adult, circumcision is a personal, medical choice. Whatever you choose, make sure you weigh the benefits and risks and decide what is right for you. Most uncircumcised men live normal and healthy lives.
For a teenager or an adult, circumcision is typically performed under anaesthetic and takes about two weeks for recovery. Some hospitals will not perform circumcisions on adults unless there is a medical reason. If you’re committed to getting circumcised, be prepared to shop around for a place to get the procedure done.
Your doctor will offer more specific instructions and topical medication, but in general you’ll want to keep the area as clean and dry as possible. You may be catheterized for a few days after the procedure in order to aid in keeping the penis dry. Your doctor will remove your catheter once the healing has begun.
You can use surgical vaseline to keep the area from sticking to clothes or gauze.
Consider allowing your child to make this decision for themselves when they become an adult. If you remove their foreskin and they decide they want it, foreskin restoration requires a lot of time and effort and does not replace all of the penile structures removed in circumcision. Conversely, if they decide to get circumcised as an adult, they will be able to make an informed decision based on the risks and benefits. Talk to your obstetrician and pediatrician. In general, the procedure will be done quickly and will recover relatively simple cleaning for the baby to recover.
Some pediatricians recommend keeping the penis covered, while some recommend leaving it uncovered to heal. If you want to wrap a little gauze around the penis, dab some petroleum jelly on it first to avoid painful snags. [7] X Research source
