Benefits & Risks

Benefits of circumcision

• Eliminates the risk of phimosis, which affects 1 in 10 older boys and men. This condition refers to a tight foreskin that cannot be pulled back fully, so making cleaning under it, and passing urine, difficult. Phimosis increases risk of penile cancer 12-fold, and is a cause of catheter problems in nursing homes.

• Reduces by 3-fold the risk of inflammation and infection of the skin of the penis. One in 10 uncircumcised men get inflammation of the head of the penis which is covered by the foreskin. This rises to 1 in 3 if the uncircumcised man is diabetic. (Uncircumcised diabetic men also have other severe penile problems.) In contrast only 2% of circumcised men get this condition.

• Over 10-fold decrease in risk of urinary tract infection. Whereas risk is only 1 in 500 for a circumcised boy, 1 in 50 uncircumcised males will get a urinary tract infection in infancy and 1 in 3 over their lifetime. This very painful condition is particularly dangerous in infancy. 40% develop kidney inflammation and disease; sepsis and meningitis can also result.

• Over 20-fold decrease in risk of invasive penile cancer, which has a high fatality rate. One in 1,000 uncircumcised men get penile cancer, which usually requires penile amputation or disfiguring surgery leading to impaired penile function and appearance.

• Uncircumcised men have elevated risk of prostate cancer, which affects 1 in 9 Australian men over their lifetime.

• Reduces by approximately 3-fold the risk of getting HIV (AIDS), during sex with an infected woman. HIV enters via the vulnerable inner lining of the foreskin of a healthy penis, but can also infect via sores anywhere on the penis (caused for example by genital herpes, balanitis or inflammation). In developed countries such as Australia cases of HIV acquired heterosexually are rising. Although still low, his risk, especially if uncircumcised, will be much greater if he engages in unsafe sex with people in countries in which HIV abounds. Condoms reduce risk 80% and should also be used consistently.

• Circumcision halves the risk of thrush as well as sexually transmitted infections such as high-risk papilloma (wart) virus, syphilis, trichomonas, chancroid, mycoplasma and reduces genital herpes risk by one-third.

• Circumcision may reduce by up to 5 times the risk of the man’s female partner being infected by chlamydia or getting cervical cancer (which is caused by high-risk human papillomavirus). Chlamydia has risen alarmingly in Australia in recent times and can cause infertility (in both sexes), pelvic inflammatory disease, and ectopic pregnancy.

• If not circumcised soon after birth, up to 10% of males will later require one anyway for medical reasons.

• Credible research shows that most women prefer the appearance of the circumcised penis. They also prefer it for sexual activity. Hygiene is one reason; increased contact of the penis with the vaginal wall, and thus greater stimulation, and more pleasure are others.

• Sexual function, sensation and satisfaction are the same or better in circumcised men.

Risks of circumcision

• For 1 in 500 circumcisions there may be either a little bleeding – easily stopped by pressure or, less commonly, requiring stitches (1 in 1000), the need to repeat surgery (1 in 1000), or a generalized infection that will require antibiotics (1 in 4000). Although there can be a local infection, often what seems like a local infection is actually part of the normal healing process.

• Serious complications (requiring hospitalization) are rare – approximately 1 in 5000.

• Mutilation or loss of the penis, and death, are virtually unheard of with circumcisions performed by a competent medical practitioner. Ensure your doctor is experienced.

• If a bleeding disorder such as haemophilia runs in the family, then the doctor needs to be advised as circumcision may require special preoperative treatment.

• Anaesthetic is imperative, preferably a local, since a general anaesthetic carries risks, and is unnecessary. For age 0-4 months a local, not a general, and for older children or teenagers a mild sedative might be considered in addition to the local. Young children who wriggle can be gently restrained. For pain after the anaesthetic wears off, an oral analgesic medication is often prescribed.

• Delay often means stitches being used for circumcision of older children, teenagers and men.

• So if circumcision is delayed past 4 months, total cost will become increasingly greater.

Source: Morris BJ, Kennedy SE, Wodak AD, Mindel A, Golovsky D, Schrieber L, Lumbers ER, Handelsman DJ, Ziegler JB. Early infant male circumcision: Systematic review, risk-benefit analysis, and progress in policy. World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics 2017; 6: 89-102.