They must also consider surgical risks and the pain that the child will undergo. The AAP recommends physicians give pain relief during circumcision. The AAP task force said circumcision can reduce the risk of urinary tract infections, from one in 100 to one in 1000 in the first year of life. Some research has shown that circumcised men are less likely to acquire HIV and syphilis. What To Do Talk to your doctor long before the baby is born.
Parents feel better if their decision is an informed one.
Visit the AAP to learn its point of view about the procedure. The Children's Medical Center at the University of Massachusetts has a list of the pros and cons of circumcision. The National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers opposes the practice.