Here Dr Rob Hicks sorts the facts from the fantasy Most circumcisions are performed soon after birth because of religious and cultural beliefs - as is the case for Jewish and Islamic faiths. Circumcision may also be needed for medical reasons. Phimosis sometimes becomes a problem in adulthood when the tightening makes sex uncomfortable - in such cases, men may request circumcision. The pros and cons From a medical point of view, routine circumcision isn t needed.
Any surgical operation comes with the risks of general anaesthetic and possible scarring.
Also, although they re minor complications, bleeding and infection often occur and can be distressing for those involved. The foreskin protects the penis tip from abrasion by clothes rubbing against it. Loss of protection can cause problems of infection and scarring, resulting in a loss of sensation. Some teenage boys feel physically and psychologically traumatised having had a circumcision soon after birth - they describe feeling robbed of the choice of having a foreskin. Parents should consider this possibility when deciding whether or not to have their son circumcised.