Circumcision: Is it Right for Your Child?
When you give birth to a son, in most cases (religious issues notwithstanding), there’s an immediate decision that you have to make: to circumcise, or not to circumcise. It’s a choice that’s left up to the parent, but that freedom can be a mixed blessing – because there just aren’t that many clear guidelines from the medical community about what you should do, and a lot of people don’t feel very comfortable pressing their doctors for the answers! So in this program, we’re going to help you with that tough decision, by bringing together in one place the medical advice and information that will help you decide what’s best for your child. You’ll meet parents who’ve decided for and against it, you’ll see a discreet demonstration of how the procedure is done, and you’ll find out what the experts, religious communities and leading health organizations have to say about the pros and cons of each approach for your child.
Guests:
Sujenie Badia Espinal - Mother who decided against circumcision
Veronica and Rob Jennings - Parents who decided in favor of circumcision
Harry Romanowitz, MD - Pediatrician; Former Chief of Pediatrics, Stamford Hospital, Stamford CT; Medical Director, Firefly Pediatrics (Urgent Evening Medical Care for Children
Jeffrey Stock, MD - Pediatric Urologist, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, New York
Rabbi Joshua Hammerman – Rabbi, Temple Beth El, Stamford, CT
Reverend Ann Schmidt - Lutheran Minister; Director of Pastoral Care, Stamford
Hospital, Stamford, CT
Behjat Syed, DC - Activities Coordinator, Stamford Islamic Center, Stamford,
CT
Veronica and Rob Jennings - Parents who decided in favor of circumcision
Harry Romanowitz, MD - Pediatrician; Former Chief of Pediatrics, Stamford Hospital, Stamford CT; Medical Director, Firefly Pediatrics (Urgent Evening Medical Care for Children
Jeffrey Stock, MD - Pediatric Urologist, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, New York
Rabbi Joshua Hammerman – Rabbi, Temple Beth El, Stamford, CT
Reverend Ann Schmidt - Lutheran Minister; Director of Pastoral Care, Stamford
Hospital, Stamford, CT
Behjat Syed, DC - Activities Coordinator, Stamford Islamic Center, Stamford,
CT
Tips:
The World Health Organization Position on Circumcision:
The American Academy of Pediatrics Position on Circumcision:
Reasons parents may choose circumcision
In March of 2007, the World Health Organization issued the following news
release on male circumcision:
In response to the urgent need to reduce the number of new HIV infections globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UNAIDS Secretariat convened an
international expert consultation to determine whether male circumcision should be
recommended for the prevention of HIV infection.
Based on the evidence presented, which was considered to be compelling, experts
attending the consultation recommended that male circumcision now be recognized as an additional important intervention to reduce the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men. The international consultation, which was held from 6-8 March 2007 in Montreux, Switzerland, was attended by participants representing a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, civil society, researchers, human rights and women's health advocates, young people, funding agencies and implementing partners.
Here is the link for the complete WHO news release about male circumcision
containing the WHO recommendations.
www.who.int/hiv/mediacentre/news68/en/index.html
release on male circumcision:
In response to the urgent need to reduce the number of new HIV infections globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UNAIDS Secretariat convened an
international expert consultation to determine whether male circumcision should be
recommended for the prevention of HIV infection.
Based on the evidence presented, which was considered to be compelling, experts
attending the consultation recommended that male circumcision now be recognized as an additional important intervention to reduce the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men. The international consultation, which was held from 6-8 March 2007 in Montreux, Switzerland, was attended by participants representing a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, civil society, researchers, human rights and women's health advocates, young people, funding agencies and implementing partners.
Here is the link for the complete WHO news release about male circumcision
containing the WHO recommendations.
www.who.int/hiv/mediacentre/news68/en/index.html
The American Academy of Pediatrics Position on Circumcision:
Before the above WHO statement was released, the American Academy of Pediatrics took a neutral position on the issue of circumcision. After release of the WHO statement, the AAP reported that it was beginning a review of that position.
To find out the latest position of the AAP, go to
www.aap.org/healthtopics/stages.cfm#inf
and click on the link that says Parent Education: Should we have our son circumcised?
www.aap.org/healthtopics/stages.cfm#inf
and click on the link that says Parent Education: Should we have our son circumcised?
As of November 2007, the American Academy of Pediatrics listed the following additional pros and cons (besides the AIDS issue) for circumcision. (Again, please check their website for more recent updates).
www.aap.org/healthtopics/stages.cfm#inf
Reasons parents may choose circumcision
There are a variety of reasons why parents choose circumcision.
Reasons parents may choose not to circumcise- Medical benefits, including
- A slightly lower risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs). A circumcised infant boy has
- about a 1 in 1,000 chance of developing a UTI in the first year of life; an uncircumcised infant
- boy has about a 1 in 100 chance of developing a UTI in the first year of life.
- A lower risk of getting cancer of the penis. However, this type of cancer is very rare in all males.
- A slightly lower risk of getting sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Prevention of foreskin infections.
- Prevention of phimosis, a condition in uncircumcised males that makes foreskin retraction impossible.
- Easier genital hygiene.
- Social reasons. Many parents choose to have it done because "all the other men in the family" had it done or because they do not want their sons to feel "different."
- Religious or cultural reasons. Some groups such as followers of the Jewish and Islamic faiths practice circumcision for religious and cultural reasons
The following are reasons why parents may choose NOT to have their son circumcised:
- Fear of the risks. Complications are rare and usually minor but may include bleeding, infection, cutting the foreskin too short or too long, and improper healing.
- Belief that the foreskin is needed. Some people feel the foreskin is needed to protect the tip of the penis. Without it, the tip of the penis may become irritated and cause the opening of the penis to become too small. This can cause urination problems that may need to be surgically corrected.
- Belief it can affect sex. Some feel that circumcision makes the tip of the penis less sensitive, causing a decrease in sexual pleasure later in life.
- Belief that proper hygiene can lower health risks. Boys can be taught proper hygiene that can lower their chances of getting infections, cancer of the penis, and STIs.
Resources:
American Academy of Pediatrics
www.aap.org
National Institutes of Health, Medline Plus
http://medlineplus.gov/
www.aap.org
National Institutes of Health, Medline Plus
http://medlineplus.gov/
