Saturday, January 31, 2015

Is The Practice Of Newborn Circumcision Really Beneficial?

By Ines Flores


Male circumcision has its roots in the ancient past. Historians believe that the practice was mainly done during rites of passage usually during cultural or religious practices. It was administered to new believers as a physical mark of a covenant in various religions. In a number of communities it was used to indicate passage from childhood into adulthood. Today, most people subject their children to the cut on medical grounds. This is the main reason behind the increase in newborn circumcision.

Proponents of circumcision have advanced a number of arguments to support the practice. One of these benefits is the fact that circumcised boys have a lower risk of suffering form urinary tract infections as compared to their uncircumcised counterparts although recent scientific research finding show that this benefit is minimal. As they grow into adults and become sexually active, circumcised men are said to have a higher sexual sensitivity than those that are uncircumcised.

There are no hard and fast rules regarding the timing of undergoing the cut. Many parents in Toronto, ON prefer to have the procedure carried out within the first 10 days after birth. There are many reasons as to why this is the case. The first of these reasons is the fact that it is convenient since it can be carried out before the mother leaves the hospital. It is performed by either the obstetrician or the pediatrician present during birth. The other advantage is that babies heal faster than older children meaning that hospital stay is shorter.

In some cases, the procedure may need to be postponed or avoided altogether. For instance, babies born prematurely are usually underweight and are often required to stay in hospital a little longer to gain the required weight. Circumcision is also delayed due to disorders affecting the urethra such as hypospadia and epispadia. In both instances, the child is circumcised much later with the foreskin being used for reconstructive surgery.

Generally, this procedure is very safe but a few complications may be encountered occasionally. Some of the complications that have been reported include local infection and bleeding. The good news is that these complications are easy to manage especially within the hospital setting. The important thing is to identify these complications early and to address them in a timely manner.

It is important to maintain high levels of hygiene once the baby has been discharged from hospital. The site should be cleaned gently at least once daily with warm water. Not only will this help to minimize infections but is also important in promoting healing. Petroleum jelly helps in reducing the irritation that may be created by diapers.

On average, healing will take place within 10 days. There may be some persistent redness but this should not be a cause for concern. The danger signs include pus from the surgical site, fevers and excessive bleeding. Get in touch with your doctor if notice any of these signs. If the baby does not pass urine for more than 12 hours after they undergo the surgery, the doctor should be alerted.

The uncircumcised penis requires that one maintains a high level of hygiene. Wash it is gently daily as you wash your baby. Do not struggle to retract the foreskin if it appears too tight. The foreskin takes about 3 years before it can be fully retracted. Just pull it back gently and clean the area that is accessible.




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