- For some families, circumcision is a religious ritual.
- Circumcision can also be a matter of family tradition, personal hygiene or preventive health care.
- For others, however, circumcision seems unnecessary, or a mutilation.
Phimosis & circumcision
Sometimes there is a medical need for circumcision, for example when the foreskin is too tight to be pulled back over the glans. This condition is called phimosis. In other cases, particularly in some regions of Africa, circumcision is recommended for older boys or men to reduce the risk of certain sexually transmitted infections. After circumcision it is generally not possible to recreate the appearance of an uncircumcised penis.
The advantages of circumcision
Circumcision may have several health benefits:
- Hygiene. It is easier to wash the penis.
- Lower risk of urinary tract infections. The overall risk of urinary tract infections in men is low, but these infections may be more common in uncircumcised men.
- Prevention of penile problems. Occasionally, the foreskin of a penis with phimosis can be difficult or impossible to return to its position after an erection (paraphimosis). This can also lead to inflammation of the foreskin or of the head of the penis.
- Lower risk of penile cancer. Although penile cancer is rare, it is less common in circumcised men. In addition, cervical cancer is less common in women whose sexual partners are circumcised.
- Lower risk of sexually transmitted infections. Safe sexual practices are still essential, but a lower risk of transmission of some sexually transmitted diseases has been observed, including HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Circumcision & sex
Circumcision does not affect fertility, nor does it reduce sexual pleasure for men or their partners.
This information is for general guidance only. The right treatment is decided only after a clinical examination. The cost depends on the type of procedure and the patient's clinical picture. For this reason, please contact the doctor personally.