After Age 1 Year - How to Clean: As the foreskin becomes able to retract on its own, cleanse beneath it. This helps to prevent infections. Exception: your child's doctor has told you not to retract the foreskin until child is older. Wash the exposed part of the glans gently with warm water.
In the first few months, you should simply clean and bathe your baby's uncircumcised penis, like the rest of the diaper area. Initially, the foreskin is connected by tissue to the glans, or head, of the penis, so you shouldn't try to retract it. No cleansing of the penis with cotton swabs or antiseptics is necessary.
Without regular cleaning, a build-up of a whitish-yellow substance known as 'smegma' can occur under the foreskin, which may cause infection. Circumcision is a surgical procedure to remove the foreskin and is a common treatment for many foreskin problems.
Ideally, the foreskin would be retracted enough to see the hole on the glans where urine comes out (called the meatus). This is an important step as it prevents urine from becoming trapped under the foreskin which could possibly lead to an infection.
These findings suggest that it is better to perform circumcision when boys are < 1 year old, when the anesthesia complications are also at a minimum. A longer hospitalization is associated with an increased risk of infection as well as increased costs (24).
Caring for an uncircumcised baby is the same as caring for infants who have been circumcised. Gentle, external cleaning during diaper changes and washing with soap and water during bath time are all that's necessary.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says the health benefits of circumcision outweigh the risks. However, the AAP does not think the benefits are great enough to recommend that all male newborns should be circumcised.
There is some evidence that circumcision has health benefits, including: Less risk of urinary tract infections. A reduced risk of some sexually transmitted diseases in men.
Neonatal male circumcision is a painful skin-breaking procedure that may affect infant physiological and behavioral stress responses as well as mother-infant interaction. Due to the plasticity of the developing nociceptive system, neonatal pain might carry long-term consequences on adult behavior.
Conversely, most pediatric general surgeons and pediatric urologists do not perform circumcisions without general anesthesia, and therefore, do not offer circumcision before 6 months of age, presumably to mitigate anesthetic risks.
A baby who is not circumcised has a one in 100 chance of getting a UTI in the first year of life. A slightly lower risk of getting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV. A lower risk of cancer of the penis. However, this is very rare in both circumcised and uncircumcised men.
FACT: Circumcision destroys the protective and sexual functions of the foreskin. Many men experience emotional harms later in life. Surgical complications are numerous, including bleeding, infection, meatal stenosis, and adhesions, ranging from minor to severe.
Circumcision can be done at any age. Traditionally, the most common time to do it is soon after your baby is born, or within the first month of life. Because the process is painful, a local anesthetic is used to numb the area and the surgery is performed while the baby is still awake.
It's more than just extra skin. The foreskin has far more functionality in a male child's life than most people realize. As a baby, the foreskin keeps a baby's penis safe, warm, moist, and clean. It allows the head of the penis (the glans) to develop normally.
Medical male circumcision can cost anywhere between R1000 and R4000 in the private sector. State-of-the-art medical male circumcision is being facilitated free of charge through CareWorks and their specialised circumcision partners as a key HIV prevention strategy by the Western Cape Government.
Excessive Foreskin Removed
In most cases the denuded area will epithelialize spontaneously and give a satisfactory end result, but the inital appearance can be quite distressing to both parents and practitioner.
About one-third of males worldwide are circumcised, although the prevalence of circumcision varies significantly by country and culture.
It's normal for the newborn to cry, especially in the first 24 hours after the procedure. This is a big day for him. Some babies might have a change in feeding and/or sleeping patterns, while others may just be overall fussier.
Studies in newborns have shown that signs of stress/pain occur during the circumcision procedure. These include crying, increased heart rate, and increased blood pressure.
The most recent American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines state that the health benefits of circumcision in newborn boys outweigh the risks of the procedure for families that choose to do it, but the AAP makes no recommendation for or against the procedure.
Healthy infants who undergo an uncomplicated circumcision can be discharged before voiding occurs.
Wash the area daily with warm water and pat it dry. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing. You may cover the area with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and gauze bandage if it weeps or rubs against clothing. Change the bandage every day.
Infants may be fussy and in pain for some hours after a circumcision, but this usually does not last more than a couple of days. Signs of pain can include crying and problems with sleep and feeding. During the first 24 hours after circumcision, you may give acetaminophen regularly to manage your child's pain.