Circumcision is the surgical procedure of removal of the foreskin in man, which is the skin that coats the head of the penis, although it began as a ritual in some religions, this technique is increasingly used for hygienic reasons and can even be used to treat the penis problems, such as fimosis, for example.
Surgery is usually performed in the first days of life, when the parents so wish, but it can also be performed later, if it is used to treat a case of phimosis that does not improve with other treatments or in adults who wish to do so. to remove the foreskin. However, the later the surgery, the more complicated the procedure and the higher the risk of complications.
- From a medical point of view.
- The benefits of circumcision are not yet well defined.
- However.
- Some objectives of circumcision appear to be:.
In addition, there are also several cases in which circumcision is only practiced for religious reasons, such as in the Jewish population, for example, that must be respected.
Circumcision is usually performed in the hospital under local anesthesia by a pediatrician, urologist or surgeon trained in the procedure, in cases where surgery is performed for religious reasons, the procedure can also be performed by another circumcision professional, but ideally is always to practice surgery in the hospital.
The removal of the foreskin is relatively fast, taking between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on the characteristics of the penis and the experience of the doctor.
Although surgery is very fast, recovery is a little slower and can take up to 10 days, during this period it is common for discomfort to occur in the penis area and, therefore, in children, it is possible to notice an increase. irritability.
In the early days it is normal for the penis to be slightly swollen and with purple spots, but appearance improves over time.
To avoid complications, especially infections, regular hygiene of the penis should be maintained by washing the area at least once a day with warm water and soap, then it should be covered with a clean bandage, especially in the case of babies who are still wearing it. diapers, to protect themselves from faeces.
In adults, in addition to cleaning the penis, the main precautions are to avoid intense physical activity during the first 2 to 4 weeks and avoid sexual contact for at least 6 weeks.
From a medical point of view, there is no female circumcision, as this term is used to refer to the removal of the foreskin from the penis, however, in some cultures there are girls who are circumcised to remove the clitoris or the skin that covers it.
This procedure can also be called female mutilation, as it is a change in a woman’s genitalia that does not bring any health benefit and can even lead to serious complications such as:
For these reasons, this procedure is not frequently practiced, being more present in some tribes and indigenous peoples of countries in Africa and Asia.
According to WHO, female genital mutilation should be abolished because it does not bring real benefits to women’s health and can lead to various changes in physical and psychological terms.
Like any other surgery, circumcision also carries certain risks, such as:
In addition, some men may experience a decrease in penis sensitivity, as some nerve endings are removed with the foreskin; however, this change is not mentioned by all the men who performed the procedure.
To avoid serious complications, it is advisable to see your doctor if, after surgery, symptoms such as severe pain, bleeding from the surgical site, difficulty urinating, fever or excessive swelling of penises appear.