Are There Benefits of an Uncircumcised Penis For Your Son?
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Are there any benefits of a circumcised penis over an uncircumcised penis? This is a question that many parents ask when they find out they are having a boy. As I researched both sides of this issue for this page I found nothing that made me sway either way on this topic. Here are the main pros and cons of an uncircumcised vs. a circumcised penis. It still remains a personal choice of the parents.
First, lets read what do the doctors say about this subject. The American Academy of Pediatrics, in their most recent Circumcision Policy Statement, concluded that 'data is not sufficient to recommend routine neonatal circumcision' and that 'parents should determine what is in the best interest of their child'.
Well, that statement clears everything up- NOT.
Now lets look at some of the reasons that parents consider when making the decision to have their sons circumcised or not.
- One common reason is because 'everyone else is circumcised'. This view was more valid when the baby's parents and grandparents were children. Today, the rate of circumcision has declined in the United States to less then 64% in the late 1990's.
- Hygiene is a huge concern for parents. Many parents feel that an uncircumcised penis is harder to clean. The fact is it is not hard to clean but it will require more attention to hygiene by your older son than an uncircumcised penis. Tweenage and teenage boys are not the best at good hygiene. Are you going to ask your 13 year old son if he has washed his penis today? I'm not trying to sway you one way or another but just give you the possible scenes.
The uncircumcised penis is relatively easy to take care. In fact, until the foreskin begins to retract, no special care is required. Once the foreskin does retract, the parent, or your child once he is old enough, can just gently retract the foreskin, clean the head of the penis with soap and water, rinse, and then pull the foreskin back over the head of the penis.
- There are some medical benefits for being circumcised including a lower risk of urinary tract infections, penile cancer and sexually transmitted diseases.
Other conditions that only occur in uncircumcised males and which can sometimes require a later circumcision include infections of the foreskin, phimosis (inability to retract the foreskin) and paraphimosis (inability to pull the foreskin back over the head of the penis after it has been retracted).
- It is also important to look at the reasons not to have a circumcision, including the risk of bleeding, pain from the procedure, infection, injury to the head of the penis, and penile sensation deficits. Children who are circumcised are also at increased risk of meatitis, or inflammation of the urethral opening.
Uncircumcised Penis Pros and Cons
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