Why It May Be Done
Because it's not usually
medically needed,
circumcision is done on newborns mainly for cultural
reasons. For example, parents may make the decision about circumcision based on
religious and family traditions, personal preferences, or the social norms
within their communities.
Circumcision: Should I keep my son's penis natural?
There may be some health benefits for
circumcised males, but these benefits must be weighed against the risks.
Medical experts in the United States agree that these health benefits alone are
not good enough reasons to have circumcision.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
does not recommend circumcision as a routine procedure for newborn males. When
making this policy, the AAP looked at the possible benefits, risks, and costs
of the procedure.3 Other major medical organizations,
including the American Medical Association and the American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists, agree with this policy.
In a
baby's first year of life,
urinary tract infections (UTIs) happen less often in
circumcised boys than in boys who are not circumcised. But UTIs are not common.
No studies support having circumcision done to prevent UTIs.4, 5, 6
There may be reasons later in life when your son may need a
circumcision. A boy or man may have problems retracting the foreskin or may
have swelling of the foreskin that requires circumcision.