Circumcision

About Circumcision

Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin, the fold of skin covering the head of the penis. It is one of the oldest known surgical procedures, depicted in ancient Egyptian art, and is widely performed for religious and cultural reasons, particularly in Jewish and Muslim communities. Medical indications include phimosis, a tight foreskin that cannot be retracted, recurrent balanitis and paraphimosis. Rates of routine newborn circumcision vary greatly between countries and over time, and medical organizations have taken differing positions on its routine use. In newborns it is commonly performed with devices such as the Gomco clamp, Mogen clamp or Plastibell under local anesthesia. In older children and adults it is usually done under general or regional anesthesia using a freehand sleeve technique with absorbable stitches. Large randomized trials in Africa found that adult male circumcision reduced the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men, which led to its promotion in some regions as part of HIV prevention programs.