Fact Box: Circumcision

When is it done?

Circumcision is usually performed on the first or second day after birth. (For Jewish people, circumcision is performed on the eighth day.) The procedure becomes more complicated and riskier in older babies, children and men.

How is it done?

During circumcision, the foreskin is freed from the head of the penis, and the excess foreskin is clipped. If done to a newborn, the procedure takes about five to 10 minutes. Adult circumcision can take an hour. The circumcision generally heals in five to seven days.

Is it necessary?

In December, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the benefits of the surgery outweigh the risks, such as bleeding and infections. The American Academy of Pediatrics has made similar statements, but adds that the benefits are not great enough to recommend universal newborn circumcision. The procedure is recommended for older boys and men to treat phimosis, which is when the foreskin is too tight, or infections.

Chinese doctors recommend the surgery be performed on boys between the ages of 8 and 13, because prior to adolescence children heal quickly and do not usually need oral estrogens to inhibit erections after surgery. Parents should talk with their doctor about the benefits and risks before deciding to circumcise a male child.

Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; American Urological Association.

(China Daily European Weekly 06/19/2015 page25)