He concludes that the surgery is simply torture masquerading as a medical procedure. The surgery is commonly performed the second day after birth upon unaesthesized babies. Prior to 1980, anesthesia was not used because it was believed that new-born infants did not feel pain. To this day, anesthetics are still not commonly used since it is believed that their use entails an additional medical risk to the infant. Even when it is used, the effects of the anesthesia wear off quickly which leave the infant in severe pain.
Circumcision includes photos of babies obviously in extreme pain during the procedure.
Also included are numerous illustrations, charts and graphs. In discussing the long range effects of circumcision, Dr. Goldman writes that the circumcised adult loses sexual sensitivity in the glans of the penis because of continual rubbing of the unprotected glans against clothing and that the intact penis' foreskin has many nerve endings which contribute to sexual enjoyment. Furthermore, the foreskin minimizes friction during intercourse and thus eliminates the need for supplementary lubrication. Very few individuals who make circumcision decisions are familiar with this information, he claims. Thus both are in denial as to the real effects of this procedure.