Although it's hard to know just what they're feeling, it's clear that babies who are circumcised experience temporary changes in heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation and hormone levels. New research even shows that early exposure to pain may have long-term effects. One study found that infants who underwent circumcision without analgesics were more sensitive to pain during immunizations at four months and six months. Another found that newborns exposed to pain by circumcision or illness were more anxious about pain as children and adolescents. If parents choose to circumcise their baby, the AAP recommends local anesthesia.
Minor infection is the second most common problem.
Less common are complications, such as improper or excessive cutting, which can impair function. In a few instances, circumcision has resulted in loss of the penis or even death. It's also more expensive. Opponents of circumcision also claim that the procedure desensitizes the penis and decreases sexual pleasure. That's because the foreskin, which makes up about half the skin of the penis, contains highly sensitive nerve endings.