Circumcision is a kind of operation done in order to make the male genital organ look different. The size and shape of the shaft varies from person to person. The word circumcision consist of two parts; circum which means around and cision which means to cut. All the boys are born with a hood of skin, commonly known as the foreskin, covering the head of the torso (glans). During the circumcision, the foreskin of the shaft is removed, which exposes the end of the male organ. These kinds of surgeries are most common in United States.

After the foreskin separates from the glan, it is pulled towards the abdomen. This is called foreskin retraction. Most of the males discover how to retract the foreskin of the shaft by the age of 5 years. But this practice should not be forced, especially in infants, as it may harm the shaft, causing pain and bleeding. It has been suggested that circumcision must be done within 2-3 weeks after birth, because the surgery becomes more complicated as the age increases. For those infants, that are born with penis abnormalities are not circumcised at all, as the foreskin may be used a part of reconstructive operation.

Why circumcision??

Some of the reasons for circumcision of penis are listed below -

• Some of the circumcision operations are performed out of religious beliefs.
• It makes the shaft cleaner and prevents or cures most of the health problems related to male genitals.
• The shaft looked better after circumcision.
• Foreskin, like tonsils and appendix, is part which is not needed, but can cause problems.
• It can be easily performed when the boys are infants and do no remember it.

Foreskin : A problem

The space between foreskin and glan remains wet naturally. This is mainly due to sweat or urine that remains there. This also causes some dirt and fluff to get trapped in that space. If this part is not cleaned on a regular basis, it can cause infection which makes it red and sore. In the early stages, the foreskin is sealed to the glan. But in the later stages, when the seal breaks, then the foreskin needs to be taken care of in the following ways-

• The foreskin needs to be pulled back, before urinating and shaken well so that the urine drops are removed completely, before pulling the skin forward.
• Once a day, the foreskin needs to be pulled back, and the area around glan is washed gently.

Circumcision: Advantages and Disadvantages

There are certain advantages associated with the circumcision process. Some of them are mentioned below -

• Some studies indicate that circumcised infants are less prone to urinary tract infection (UTI) during the initial years of life.
• Circumcised males may also have lower risk for getting penile cancer
• It is also indicated that the procedure of circumcision offers a defense against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and HIV.
• Cleaning of the shaft become easy when it is circumcised.
• Circumcision may either decrease or increase the sensitivity at the tip of the torso.

Besides these benefits, there are certain disadvantages offered by the circumcision procedure like any other surgical process. These risks are small, but must be known before opting for the shaft circumcision. Complications in cases of infant circumcision are less, occurring in 0.2% to 3% of cases. The most common ones are minor bleeding and infection, both of which can be easily treated. Two typical forms of local anesthetics used to make the process less painful are listed below -

• A topical cream which becomes effective in 20-40 minutes.
• An injectable anesthetic, which becomes effective in less time and has long lasting effect.

Care for Circumcised Penis

The washing of circumcised penis must be done gently, as carelessness can cause discomfort after circumcision. It is recommended, that putting a dab of petroleum jelly on the shaft can alleviate the discomfort. It takes about 7-10 days for a shaft to heal. It is necessary to call a medical specialist if any of the following symptoms are observed -

• Persistent bleeding
• Redness of the shaft around the tip
• Infections, such as pus-filled blisters
• Inability to urinate normally

Care for Uncircumcised Penis

When the shaft is uncircumcised, it must be clean. There is no requirement of cotton swabs, astringent or other special bath products. Washing must be done with soap and warm water. The foreskin must not be pulled forcibly during the cleaning process. With time, this skin can retract on its own, and pulled away from the glan towards the abdomen.