Male circumcision (Figure 70.1)
Definition
Male circumcision refers to the surgical removal of all or part of the foreskin of the male penis.
Incidence
- It is the most common surgery performed on males.
- Circumcision rates vary from country to country: 90–95% in Israel, 60–90% in the USA, 50% in Canada and the UK.
Indications
- The most common indications are religious traditions and/or social beliefs. Cultural traditions also often dictate the timing of the procedure and the person responsible for performing it.
- Newborn (male) circumcision has potential medical benefits and advantages as well as disadvantages and risks. It is generally accepted that there is no medical indication for routine circumcision of newborn males.
- Medical indications are rare. These include persistent non-retractability (especially if associated with urinary obstruction), phimosis and paraphimosis (acute onset of pain and swelling of the glans due to obstruction of venous return, resulting from a persistent retracted foreskin), and possibly recurrent urinary tract infections and/or sexually transmitted infections.
