Investigations from Africa show that HIV may be more easily transmitted to the non-circumcised. Cancer of the penis occurs almost exclusively in non-circumcised males. There are also religious and cultural reasons for many circumcisions. The majority of men in the United States have been circumcised, but this is not the case in Europe. Ten percent or more of non-circumcised older children or adult males will eventually need a circumcision because of phimosis, penile infections or hygiene concerns, and they usually regret not having been circumcised earlier.
Neonatal circumcision is the most common surgical procedure in childhood.
As with any operation, there is some pain which causes increased crying, an elevated heart rate, as well as measurable hormonal changes. Most pediatric urologists believe that the use of local penile anesthesia prior to surgery decreases pain and should be used. It can be given by injection at the base of the penis, into the tissue to be cut, or topically with an anesthetic cream. An infant undergoing circumcision can be comforted by sucking on a nipple with sugar solution, and this also helps with pain. The procedure usually takes about 10 minutes when done by an experienced person.