On the plus side, circumcision slightly reduces the chance of things like urinary tract infections. Many parents choose circumcision simply because they don't want their son to look different from other boys. Still, it is an a surgical procedure and as such, it carries risks. Johns Hopkins pediatric urologist Dr. John Gearhart says those who routinely do circumcisions usually obstetricians should have a frank talk with parents beforehand. I think you also have to take the responsibility to counsel these young parents, that yes this is a routine procedure, yes the majority of the time things go very well, but there can be complications to newborn circumcision, and you need to know about this.
Common problems are too little foreskin removed from the penis, or too much.
The first problem is easy to fix. At the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, I'm Tom Haederle reporting. The Johns Hopkins University. All rights reserved.