Generally, circumcision isn't medically necessary. Parents may decide to have their newborn males circumcised for social, cultural, or religious reasons. There are medical reasons we may recommend circumcision, such as preventing bacteria from getting trapped and lowering the risk of infections.
What are the health effects of circumcision? Circumcised males are less likely than non-circumcised males to have urinary tract infections, phimosis, paraphimosis and balanitis, or to develop penis cancer3. However, many uncircumcised males never experience these problems.
Eventually, the foreskin should be retracted far enough during urination to see the meatus (the hole where the urine comes from). This prevents urine from building up beneath the foreskin and possibly causing an infection. As long as the foreskin doesn't easily retract, only the outside needs to be cleaned.
At birth, the foreskin is attached to the head of the penis (glans). It is attached by a layer of cells. Over time, the foreskin will separate from the head of the penis. This is a natural process and occurs over 5 to 10 years.
Back in the 1950s, roughly 80 per cent of Australian men and boys were circumcised. That rate has steadily decreased and now, around 20 per cent of Australian newborns are circumcised. This is largely due to developments in modern medicine.
Uncircumcised penises are vulnerable to infection and conditions like balanitis, phimosis, and paraphimosis. Having a foreskin may also increase the risk of getting sexually transmitted infections like HIV, HPV, and genital herpes.
Medical reasons for circumcision
no risk of infants and children getting infections under the foreskin. easier genital hygiene. much lower risk of getting cancer of the penis (although this is a very rare condition and good genital hygiene also seems to reduce the risk.
That said, “studies show that there is no significant change in sensation in adult men who undergo circumcision,” says Dr. Alex Shteynshlyuger, director of urology at New York Urology Specialists.
Many families who choose to forgo circumcision say they don't want to put their child through a painful elective procedure and recovery when they can live a healthy life without it.
However, circumcision does not increase the penile size, and a meta-analysis revealed that circumcision does not affect premature ejaculation10.
The cost of a circumcision procedure depends on the method that we use and age of the patient. The price for a circumcision procedure starts from $385 'out of pocket' with Medicare. Your Medicare rebate can be obtained via your myGov account. If your baby does not have a Medicare card, a circumcision starts at $611.
Almost 60% of men reported that they would prefer to be circumcised and 76% of women stated a preference for circumcised sexual partners.
The possible medical benefits of circumcision include: A lower risk of HIV. A slightly lower risk of other sexually transmitted diseases. A slightly lower risk of urinary tract infections and penile cancer.
Most boys will be able to retract their foreskins by the time they are 5 years old, yet others will not be able to until the teen years. As a boy becomes more aware of his body, he will most likely discover how to retract his own foreskin. But foreskin retraction should never be forced.
The available data suggest there are important indirect health benefits of male circumcision for women, in particular a reduced risk of exposure to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Getting circumcised often is associated with baby boys. However, many people are surprised to learn that adults can request the procedure.
There is no scientific evidence to suggest that the presence or lack of a foreskin affects fertility. The causes of male infertility relate to sperm production, which occurs in the testicles.
About 1 in 10 newborn boys in Australia undergo circumcision in Australia today. Male circumcision has been performed for religious and cultural reasons for thousands of years. In some cultures and religions, it remains an important religious and cultural ritual.
It is clean and plays an important role in moisturizing the glans penis. Specifically the foreskin helps to maintain penile warmth, proper ph balance and cleanliness. In a circumcised penis, the lack of the protective foreskin can lead to desensitization.
Adult circumcision is a surgical procedure, so it does carry certain risks as well as possible side effects; these include pain, bleeding, and infection. Although these health risks are low, they are higher than for infant circumcision.
The same basic principles apply whether you have a foreskin or have been circumcised. Gently wash your penis each day. Carefully pull back and clean underneath the foreskin, as well as the tip of your penis (the glans) using only water and a very gentle soap. Don't scrub this sensitive area.
The cost for circumcising a baby up to 6 weeks of age is $550 at our Brisbane & Gold Coast circumcision clinics. The price increases with age. Please contact us by phone at 07 2103 2322 or use the Cost Confirmation form to get the circumcision cost that applies in your case if your son is over 6 weeks of age.