What is circumcision?

By Heather Corinna

For a long time, I've been hearing about something called a circumcision, and I know it has something to do with the penis, but I'm not quite sure what happens to the penis during the process. Can you please explain it to me?

Circumcision is usually done in infancy or early childhood: it is a surgical removal of the sleeve of skin and tissue that covers the head of the penis. This double layer, called the prepuce, is more commonly known as the foreskin. During a circumcision, the foreskin is separated from the head of the penis and slit, then the foreskin is removed. This is usually done without an anesthetic, because of the risks involved to babies with anesthesia. There are substantial medical risks during this procedure, like infection and hemorrhage, as well as nerve damage and sensitivity loss, and it is painful. In later life, men who have been circumcised do have less sensation on the penis than men who have not been.

It is a fairly common procedure only in the States, Australia and Canada, where it has been routine medical practice for only the last 30 years. Globally, however, about 80% of men are NOT circumcised. You can tell if a penis is circumcised or not because one that isn't has a foreskin attached to the head of the penis which you can move back with your hand. One that is circumcised doesn't have that layer of skin anymore. For more on foreskins and the whole of your sexual anatomy, see Man's Best Friend.

Some people believe it is cleaner to be circumcised, though that isn't true. More often, circumcision is done according to religious traditions and beliefs, or basic cultural standards. It doesn't need to be done for any medical reasons. Some doctors and other people believe that circumcision can help to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections, penile cancer and the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, but none of those things have been adequately proven.

The American Academy of Pediatrics -- as well as other credible medical organizations -- has made clear that the routine circumcision of male infants cannot be justified on medical grounds, and most medical organizations no longer recommend circumcision at all. So, at this time, circumcision is only done because of certian cultural or religious traditions, or because a parent has or parents have a personal preference.