"I am interested in your thoughts on male circumcision. We are expecting our first son and I hear the procedure is no longer routine."
-Miguel, Santa Maria
You are exactly right … circumcision is no longer routine in the United States …although about sixty percent of male babies undergo the procedure. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics … there are benefits and risks to circumcision. Benefits include men being less likely to develop penile cancer and urinary tract infections … and recent research provides some definitive evidence that circumcision prevents the transmission of HIV. The risks are obvious and can include pain … scarring and infection at the wound site. In addition … there can be social stigma associated with circumcision in certain cultures. Ultimately … it is up to the parents to decide whether to have their son circumcised as an infant.
