The benefits of circumcision

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The benefits of circumcision

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Circumcision is a procedure where the foreskin is surgically removed and it's generally done within the first few days or weeks of the baby's life. It's done, generally, using local anesthesia and with the baby sucking on some sugar water to help control pain. And, it heals within about a week just by putting Vaseline on top of the penis. It's generally done for social, religious, cultural reasons. Different social groups in America are more likely or less likely to circumcise their sons and parents choose circumcision for their sons because they feel, like after examining all the evidence, it's the right thing to do for their child the same way we make lots and lots of decisions for our children as they grow up and become adults. There's also excellent medical reasons for doing a circumcision. Circumcision can decrease HIV infection by 64%. Partners of circumcised men have less APV infection and are less likely to get cervical cancer. There's less of a risk of penile cancer in men who have been circumcised. Also, when there is no foreskin, there's much less risk of phimosis which is where the foreskin get stuck to the head of the penis or balanitis where there is an infection of the head of the penis. Studies have not born out any difference in sensation or sexual satisfaction between men who have or have not been circumcised. So, at the end of the day, parents really need to examine medical evidence and the social and cultural norms in their community and decide whether they feel like this is something that is right for their child.

Watch Lauren D. Hyman, MD's video on The benefits of circumcision...

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Lauren D. Hyman, MD

Obstetrician Gynecologist

Dr. Lauren Hyman is a board-certified obstetrician gynecologist. After receiving her ScB from Brown University and her medical degree from Yale University, Dr. Hyman returned to Southern California where she has been in private practice in the West Hills area for fifteen years. She can be seen weekly on Hallmark Channelʼs Home and Family Pregnancy Series and is a contributing writer on mom.me. She lives with her husband and two children in Los Angeles.

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