Circumcision is one of the most ancient practices that have been passed over generations for centuries. Although the reasons as to why the practice is carried out vary between communities and generations, the basics of how it is performed have remained largely unchanged. Ancient communities carried out the cut mainly for religious and cultural rites of passage but today a great majority of people do it for medical purposes. Newborn circumcision is the main form of practice that is practiced among the Jews and in many western countries.
One of the arguments that have been advanced in favor of circumcision is the fact that it helps in reducing the incidence of urinary tract infections. This is because the penis is easier to clean without the foreskin and bacterial organisms no longer have an environment to replicate and cause disease in young boys. In sexually active adults, there have been claims that circumcised men have greater sensitivity than their uncircumcised counterparts but this has not been proven scientifically.
There are no hard and fast rules regarding the timing of undergoing the cut. Many parents in Toronto, ON prefer to have the procedure carried out within the first 10 days after birth. There are many reasons as to why this is the case. The first of these reasons is the fact that it is convenient since it can be carried out before the mother leaves the hospital. It is performed by either the obstetrician or the pediatrician present during birth. The other advantage is that babies heal faster than older children meaning that hospital stay is shorter.
In some cases, the procedure may be delayed to a later date. For instance, if the baby is born prematurely, doctors will recommend that the he be admitted until the weight is acceptable. This is because the premature baby may not tolerate the anesthesia used for the procedure. In the event that an abnormality of the genital organs is identified such as that affecting the urethra, it is advisable that circumcision be delayed.
In general the procedure is safe but there are a number of complications that may be encountered. Local site infection and bleeding are fairly common but easily controlled in the hospital setting. Late onset infections also respond well to treatment with antibiotics when identified early and treated promptly. Pain is usually managed by the use of either general or local anesthesia.
Cleanliness after the surgery is paramount. Proper hygiene helps to minimize the rate of infections and ensures that healing takes place in a short period of time. It is recommended that the area be cleaned at least once with warm water. Diapers may irritate the surgical site in the first few days but this can be controlled by applying some petroleum jelly.
Healing takes between 7 and 10 days on average. Some babies may have some redness that persists for sometime but this tends to heal over time. Ensure that you be on the lookout for fever, bleeding or production of pus. The appearance of any of these signs should prompt you to look for medical intervention. Failure to pass urine for more than 12 hours after the procedure is also a cause for concern.
For those that decide against circumcision, it is important to maintain hygiene as well. Daily cleaning of the uncircumcised penis as you wash the baby helps to get rid of bacterial organisms that may be harbored beneath the foreskin. Ensure that this is done gently bearing in mind that the foreskin takes about 3 years to be fully retractable.
One of the arguments that have been advanced in favor of circumcision is the fact that it helps in reducing the incidence of urinary tract infections. This is because the penis is easier to clean without the foreskin and bacterial organisms no longer have an environment to replicate and cause disease in young boys. In sexually active adults, there have been claims that circumcised men have greater sensitivity than their uncircumcised counterparts but this has not been proven scientifically.
There are no hard and fast rules regarding the timing of undergoing the cut. Many parents in Toronto, ON prefer to have the procedure carried out within the first 10 days after birth. There are many reasons as to why this is the case. The first of these reasons is the fact that it is convenient since it can be carried out before the mother leaves the hospital. It is performed by either the obstetrician or the pediatrician present during birth. The other advantage is that babies heal faster than older children meaning that hospital stay is shorter.
In some cases, the procedure may be delayed to a later date. For instance, if the baby is born prematurely, doctors will recommend that the he be admitted until the weight is acceptable. This is because the premature baby may not tolerate the anesthesia used for the procedure. In the event that an abnormality of the genital organs is identified such as that affecting the urethra, it is advisable that circumcision be delayed.
In general the procedure is safe but there are a number of complications that may be encountered. Local site infection and bleeding are fairly common but easily controlled in the hospital setting. Late onset infections also respond well to treatment with antibiotics when identified early and treated promptly. Pain is usually managed by the use of either general or local anesthesia.
Cleanliness after the surgery is paramount. Proper hygiene helps to minimize the rate of infections and ensures that healing takes place in a short period of time. It is recommended that the area be cleaned at least once with warm water. Diapers may irritate the surgical site in the first few days but this can be controlled by applying some petroleum jelly.
Healing takes between 7 and 10 days on average. Some babies may have some redness that persists for sometime but this tends to heal over time. Ensure that you be on the lookout for fever, bleeding or production of pus. The appearance of any of these signs should prompt you to look for medical intervention. Failure to pass urine for more than 12 hours after the procedure is also a cause for concern.
For those that decide against circumcision, it is important to maintain hygiene as well. Daily cleaning of the uncircumcised penis as you wash the baby helps to get rid of bacterial organisms that may be harbored beneath the foreskin. Ensure that this is done gently bearing in mind that the foreskin takes about 3 years to be fully retractable.
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