There are many different views in society

today about whether parents should

circumcise their baby boy or young son.
Parents who choose to have their infant male circumcised
usually do so for three broad reasons. These are;
1. For health reasons
2. For hygiene and appearance reasons, and Circumcision
3. For religious or cultural reasons
A guide for parents
Ethical and human rights issues have been debated
regarding infant male circumcision. This is because;
1. the foreskin is known to have a specific purpose
2. the operation is done mostly without a medical reason, and
3. the infant is unable to decide for himself

The decision to circumcise or not to

circumcise your son involves knowing
about the potential harm (or risks) and
the potential benefits.
Some of the benefits identified in the medical and
scientific research include;
• a ‘sense of belonging’ the person will have
to their religious/cultural group because
circumcision is regarded as a “normal practice”
for that group, and
• a decreased risk of some diseases – like urinary
tract infections and some sexually transmitted
infections

Some of the potential harm or risks include;

• pain due to the operation (this can be extreme
where the right type of pain medication is not used) This brochure has been developed to help parents make
• bleeding an informed decision about circumcision. The information
has come from medical and scientific research that has
• infection been carefully examined to make sure you have the right
• loss of some function of the penis due to information about the risks and benefits.
complications,
A group of doctors, nurses and parents have put this information
• in some cases psychological harm for the child, together and they strongly support and recommend
145 Macquarie Street Sydney NSW 2000
and you talking more to your family doctor or paediatrician.
Ph: (02) 9256 5409 Fax: (02) 9256 5465
• the ‘violation’ of individual rights – as the child Email: paed@racp.edu.au
is unable to decide for themselves in regards to The Paediatrics & Child Health Division of The Royal
The detailed policy statement on Australasian College of Physicians believes that newborn
their body
circumcision can be found at baby boys and young infants do not need to be circumcised,
www.racp.edu.au/page/policy-and-advocacy/paediatrics-and-child-health unless there is a medical reason.
What is circumcision? Facts and figures about circumcision
Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin, • As a parent you have a choice about whether to • Circumcision reduces the risk of infections under the
which is a fold of skin that covers the tip of the penis. circumcise your son or not. It is important that you foreskin, which sometimes happens in infancy and later
understand that it involves an operation and therefore in childhood.
Circumcision has been performed on boys for several
has risks. • In cases where the foreskin is excessively tight around
thousands of years. Knowledge of the exact origins of
• There are fewer boys being circumcised in Australia and the tip of the penis, (known as phimosis), circumcision
the practice of circumcision has been lost but it is an
New Zealand in recent years than in the past. Currently, may not need to be the first option. This type of situation
important ritual as part of some religious faiths.
only 10-20% of boys in Australia and less than 10 % of will often respond well to other treatment such as the
boys in New Zealand are circumcised. application of special creams.
What does the foreskin do? • Circumcision almost eliminates the risk of developing
• Circumcision is generally a safe operation but as with
The foreskin has two main functions. all operations there are risks of minor complications cancer of the penis later in life. This is however, an
and there have been cases of rare but more serious extremely rare condition with an incidence of 1 in
1. It protects the tip of the penis (also known as the 250,000 men in Australia.
glans). complications. Some of the minor complications include
an infection of the penis, bleeding where the foreskin • In countries with high rates of sexually transmitted
2. It also has a sensory function as it contains some of was removed and poor cosmetic result. Less common but diseases such as HIV and syphilis, circumcised men have
the most sensitive areas of the penis. serious complications include damage to the tip of the a lower risk of getting these infections. In countries such
penis, loss of the penis, or even death. as Australia and New Zealand, where these diseases are
How do you take care of the foreskin? • Circumcision will be painful for the baby or child, both rare, research suggests that being circumcised does not
at the time of the operation and for some days after. make a significant difference. In any case, circumcision is
It is normal for the foreskin to be connected to the no substitute for safe sex practices such as condom use.
tip of the penis in newborn males and for it to be too The Paediatrics & Child Health Division of The Royal
narrow to pull back . Australasian College of Physicians(RACP) strongly • How circumcision affects sexual sensation of the penis
recommends the use of pain relief both during and after is not clear. Medical and scientific research show
The foreskin requires no special attention in infancy. the operation. RACP recommends the use of an injected both improved and reduced sexual pleasure for men
It should be left alone. local anaesthetic for very young boys and for older boys, circumcised as adults.
The foreskin naturally begins to loosen and separate a general anaesthetic during the operation and afterwards • Many families with circumcised fathers, are raising
away from the tip of the penis during childhood, so that other types of pain relief like paracetamol (eg. Panadol or uncircumcised sons without any social or psychological
by the age of 5 most boys can partially pull back the Panamax). consequences.
foreskin. It can be gently pulled back while bathing at • Most circumcisions are carried out for family, cultural • Some of the medical research says that there are a
any age, as far as is comfortable, and the visible parts or religious reasons. Very rarely is a circumcision done growing number of men getting operations to reconstruct
of the penis cleaned along with the rest of the body. because of medical reasons. the foreskin of their penis following circumcision as an
The foreskin should never be forcibly pulled back as this • Circumcision may lower a boy’s chance of getting a infant.
may be painful, or result in injury to the foreskin. urinary tract infection, particularly in the first year of life. • Circumcision can be put off until the boy is old enough
By puberty most boys will be able to fully pull back the Circumcision is of most benefit to those boys who have to understand the risks and benefits and make the
foreskin away from the tip of the penis. recurrent urinary tract infections or a condition known as decision for himself.
urinary reflux.

Summary
There are many different views in today’s society about circumcision. As a parent you need to make an informed decision a
fter carefully looking at all the facts about the benefits and risks for your child.
If you request a circumcision for your child, ensure that it is done in a safe, child-friendly environment by properly trained and
qualified staff. Your son should receive the right care, including medicine for pain relief and safe management of complications,
should they occur.