As far back as 3000 BC, Egyptians and Aztecs began performing circumcision for purposes of hygiene (Circumcision - History and Recent Trends). A few centuries later, the Old Testament (Genesis 17:10-11) proclaimed “…You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between [God] and you” (Reading the Old Testament). Then, the procedure gained popularity as a routine surgery in America in the late nineteenth century when in 1896 a very popular parenting book entitled All About Baby recommended circumcision for most boys to “halt the vile habit of masturbation” (Mothers Who Think). Nowadays, sixty percent of American males are circumcised in the United States (Infant Male Circumcision is not in the Best Interests of the Health & Rights of the Child). While there are some minor arguable benefits to circumcision such as reduced risks of urinary tract infections, cancer of the penis, transmitting STDs, there is still the possibility of trauma to the infant, infections, and deformities of the penis, not to mention sex and health risks as adults.
In the U.S., over 1.25 million [male] infants are annually circumcised; that’s more than 3,300 babies each day and one child every 26 seconds (Infant Male Circumcision is not in the Best Interests of the Health & Rights of the Child). In males, circumcision is a surgical procedure that removes some or all of the foreskin from the penis. Most male infants are circumcised at birth in the hospital where they are born. Others are circumcised as part of a religious ceremony. The possible benefits to circumcision are reduced risks of urinary tract infections, reduced risk of penile cancer, and reduced risk of transmitting STDs.
Firstly, it is true that circumcision does reduce the risks of urinary tract infections; however, studies find that urinary tract infections are only reduced during the infant’s first year of life. Secondly, it is proposed that circumcision reduced the risk of penile cancer. According to VHI Healthcare, penile cancer is an “extremely rare cancer” (VHI Healthcare). Also, VHI Healthcare goes on to state that “good personal hygiene is equally protective [against penile cancer as circumcision]” (VHI Healthcare). And thirdly, it is believed that men who are circumcised have less of a chance of transmitting and contracting STDs. This theory is true to a certain extent because according to Maggie Fox of Reuters.com, “sexual intercourse may cause tiny tears in the foreskin, allowing [viruses] into the bloodstream” (Fox). However it is also stated that if a man uses condoms or not is more “important in STD prevention than whether or not he is circumcised.” So while these benefits to a certain extent are valid, the American Academy of Pediatrics states that “the benefits of circumcision are not significant enough to recommend circumcision as a routine procedure” (VHI Healthcare).
In addition to the benefits of circumcision, there are also a number of detriments. Some of the detriments include trauma and shock to the infant, irritation and infection, deformities of the penis, and absence of normal function of the penis. First of all, one major detriment of circumcision is trauma and shock to the infant. A recent study conducted by a group of Canadian researchers concluded that circumcision has “long lasting traumatic effects” on the infant. Researchers “tested 87 infants at 4 months and 6 months of age. The boys who had been circumcised were more sensitive to pain than the uncircumcised boys. Differences between groups were significant regarding (1) facial action, (2) crying time, and (3) assessments of pain.” The researchers believe that "neonatal circumcision may induce long-lasting changes in infant pain behavior because of alterations in the infant’s central neural processing of painful stimuli” (Taddio). After being circumcised, the open wound is left confined inside a diaper. The diaper prevents proper airflow to the wound which can interfere with the healing process. Furthermore, the diaper gets filled with urine and feces more than a couple times a day, which can lead to irritation and infection if any of the urine and/or feces gets inside the open wound. Also, due to complications and/or a lack of proper training, botched circumcisions can lead to penile deformities. Most deformities include portions of the foreskin that needed to be removed but were not which can cause psychological issues and self-consciousness. The psychological problems can lead to erectile dysfunction. However, some botched circumcisions require the male to have corrective surgery in order to be able to obtain an erection. Furthermore, there have been a few reports of extreme cases where an entire penis needed to be surgically removed.
In addition to the trauma and shock to the infant, irritation and infection, and deformities of the penis, there is also an absence of normal function of the penis with circumcision. The first function of the foreskin is in protection. Like the female clitoris, the head of the penis is intended by nature to be a protected internal organ. When the foreskin is removed, the head of the penis is no longer protected so keratinization (callusing) occurs which causes a loss of sexual sensation and pleasure.
Also, gliding action is affected when the foreskin is removed. During sexual activity, the foreskin and glans work in together to create a complete sexual response. So a normal sexual response is not happening. Normal functioning also includes the non-abrasive gliding of the penis in and out of itself within the vagina which facilitates smooth and gratifying intercourse. Furthermore, without this gliding action, the corona of the circumcised penis can function as a one-way valve, dragging vaginal lubricants out into the drying air and making artificial lubricants essential for non-painful intercourse.
Thirdly, the frenulum connects the inner foreskin to the underside of the glans of the penis. For many intact men, the penile frenulum is a male "G-spot" that is highly pleasurable when repeatedly stretched and relaxed during sexual activity. Depending on the surgical method used, the frenulum is partially to completely destroyed by circumcision. And finally, the foreskin contains several feet of blood vessels, including the frenular artery and branches of the dorsal artery. The loss of this rich vascularization interrupts normal blood flow to the shaft and glans of the penis, damaging the natural function of the penis and altering its development.
According to VHI Healthcare, medically, the only valid reasons for male circumcision are Phimosis, Paraphimosis, and Balanitis which are all disorders where the foreskin hinders proper blood flow throughout the penis. Also, penile cancer that affects the foreskin is cause for removal of the foreskin. And finally painful sex due to improper retraction of the foreskin is also means for circumcision (VHI Healthcare). But usually these are not the reasons that male circumcisions are performed. The detriments of male circumcision vastly outweigh the benefits. Furthermore, male circumcision is a procedure that should not be performed on all males. The procedure should only be performed if there is a problem affecting the foreskin and the blood flow of the penis, penile cancer, or if there is pain caused by the foreskin. Parents should be provided with more information on circumcision before they decide to have the surgical procedure performed.
No comments:
Post a Comment