What & Why Of Circumcision?

What is Circumcision?
Circumcision is a procedure in which the prepuce (also called as foreskin which is the sheath of tissue covering the head of the penis) is removed so as to permanently expose the glans. The word 'circumcision' comes from Latin 'circum' (meaning 'around') and caedere (meaning 'to cut').
Circumcision has been performed since ancient times, when it was done as a religious practice or as an initiation of boys into adulthood. Today also, circumcision is performed by the Jewish and Muslim communities soon after birth (or up to puberty by Muslims) for religious reasons. Non-religious circumcisions are done to cure medical conditions or as a prophylactic measure to prevent penile related problems.

Benefits Of Circumcision:

• Phimosis is a condition where the foreskin cannot be fully retracted from the head of the penis. If not treated on time then it can cause severe bladder and kidney problems in later life or may be death due to urinary tract infection, anuria and kidney failure. Circumcision totally prevents the development of phimosis.
• Paraphimosis is a medical condition where the foreskin becomes trapped behind the glans penis and cannot be pulled back to its normal flaccid position covering the glans penis. If the condition persists for several hours or there is any sign of a lack of blood flow, then paraphimosis should be treated as an emergency as it can result in gangrene or other serious complications. Circumcision totally prevents the arousal of this condition as the foreskin is already removed.
• Balanitis is the inflammation of the glans penis and when the foreskin is also affected, it is termed balanoposthitis caused by bacteria and fungi that flourish in the stale urine or smegma and warm and moist environment below the prepuce. If the foreskin is removed then this condition will not arise. Hence, circumcision will also prevent from the pain balanitis causes.
• Frenulum preputi penis is an elastic band of tissue under the glans penis that connects to the foreskin and helps contract the prepuce over the glans. The frenulum should normally be sufficiently long and supple to allow for the full retraction of the prepuce so that it lies smoothly back on the shaft of the erect penis. But in a condition called as frenulum breve, this frenulum is short which restricts the retraction of the prepuce, thus causing pulling and pain. Circumcision is a recommended treatment method for this condition. But if circumcision is done earlier then it will prevent this condition all together.
• Generally the circumcised penis does not smell as smegma does not gather round the gland under the fore skin. This helps in maintaining genital hygiene and also prevents the person from the discomfort the recurrent urinary tract infections bring about when the foreskin is not retracted and cleaned regularly.
• Circumcision slightly reduces the sensitivity of the glans, and so, helps in delaying orgasm, and thus, improves sexual relations. Also as per reports, the rim of the glans can be felt by the woman during intercourse giving her better stimulation and the man a more sensual teasing during such movements.

Other Benefits Of Circumcision As Per Research Reports...

• Circumcised boys suffer fewer urinary tract infections than uncircumcised boys
• There is also clear evidence that circumcision makes a man slightly less susceptible to catching the AIDS virus
• An uncircumcised man whose female partner suffers from fungal infection will harbour the infection himself and after the female partner has undergone a course of treatment and sex is resumed he reinfects her from under his foreskin which does not happen with circumcised men
• Urologists have observed that a much higher percentage of uncircumcised men need their professional attention in old age
• The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which causes cancer of the penis and cervical cancer, resides in the foreskin. Therefore, it is also well known that cervical and penile cancer are reduced by circumcision
• Circumcised men are protected from HIV infection as HIV enters the penis through the inner part of the foreskin and circumcised men have no foreskin. But being circumcised does not mean men could forgo using a condom

It is thought that circumcision is very painful. There is a degree of discomfort involved with any surgery but with the help of modern, safe anaesthetics and analgesics this can be made very insignificant. The same is with circumcision procedure. It is usually done in infancy. In teenagers and adults, it can be advised in cases of phimosis, paraphimosis, frenulum breve, balanitis, recurrent urinary or penile infections, etc.