Saturday Evening Post, July 1982 R isks of newborn circumcision are underreported and ignored factors in this argument. Often a poor surgical result is not recognized until years after the event. Adverse long-term consequences of infant circumcision on the sexual health of American men must be recognized by physicians, parents and legislators. M en who say, 'I'm circumcised and just fine' are either unaware as to how circumcision diminishes the penis or in denial to block feelings of hopelessness. This ignorance persists despite the fact that a nationwide study on the long-term impact of male circumcision could be conducted for less than it cost us to conduct any two minutes of the Persian Gulf War.
Females produce smegma under their clitoral hood identical to males.
As a result, odor and infection can occur if it is not cleaned. But we do not circumcise the female's clitoral hood. H istorians of the future will find it incredible that we mutilated babies by cutting off the end of their penises in the name of medicine. There are now serious concerns that this may actually deprive adult men of a vital part of their sexual sensitivity. Medical Advisor J ustification of circumcision in order to save a boy later locker room embarrassment seems unrealistic.