The baby must either be circumcised or attempts made to enlarge the tight ring by stretching its edges in all directions with a small, scissorslike, dull-bladed clamp. The doctor does this by introducing the point of the clamp within the ring of the prepuce and gently opening the handles. This may be tried daily for several days and if at the end of this time the opening is not sufficiently enlarged so that the foreskin retracts with ease, circumcision is necessary. Some physicians recommend routine circumcision, while others advise it only for a tight, unstretchable foreskin. It does not necessitate handling of the penis by the infant's mother, or the child himself in later years, and therefore does not focus the male's attention on his own genitals.
Masturbation is considered less likely.
Venereal disease is less easily contracted by the circumcised male and prophylaxis against it more efficient. A tight foreskin occasionally becomes tighter as the child grows older and may necessitate circumcision in adulthood. At this time the operation is very painful and requires several days for convalescence. A circumcised boy may feel self-conscious when unclothed in the presence of boys who are uncircumcised. However, this supposed disadvantage is often listed as an advantage.