The practice of circumcision is one that has been with us for centuries. In ancient days, it was mainly performed for religious and cultural purposes but this has changed over time and it has taken a more medical angle. There is a huge variation as relates to the timing at which the cut is undertaken. When used for cultural rites of passage, circumcision is usually done to adolescent boys or young adults. Newborn circumcision is a common practice in many western countries and among the Jews.
One of the arguments that have been advanced in favor of circumcision is the fact that it helps in reducing the incidence of urinary tract infections. This is because the penis is easier to clean without the foreskin and bacterial organisms no longer have an environment to replicate and cause disease in young boys. In sexually active adults, there have been claims that circumcised men have greater sensitivity than their uncircumcised counterparts but this has not been proven scientifically.
Commonly, many residents in Toronto, ON prefer to circumcise their babies within the first 10 days before leaving the hospital. Not only is this convenient to the mother but is also easier for the baby. Older children and adults have more developed tissues and tend to stay in hospital longer as compared to the newborns. Pediatricians and obstetricians commonly perform the procedure because they are the first attendants to the baby.
There are a number of medical conditions that may prevent the procedure from being carried out immediately. Prematurity requires that the baby waits for some time for weight gain before they can be considered for the surgery. A number of boys are born with abnormalities of the urethra popularly known as hypospadia and epispadia. Whenever these conditions are noted the procedure will be delayed and the foreskin will be used for repair of the defect.
In general the procedure is safe but there are a number of complications that may be encountered. Local site infection and bleeding are fairly common but easily controlled in the hospital setting. Late onset infections also respond well to treatment with antibiotics when identified early and treated promptly. Pain is usually managed by the use of either general or local anesthesia.
It is important to maintain high levels of hygiene once the baby has been discharged from hospital. The site should be cleaned gently at least once daily with warm water. Not only will this help to minimize infections but is also important in promoting healing. Petroleum jelly helps in reducing the irritation that may be created by diapers.
If performed in the right manner, the wound will take between 7 and 10 days to heal. There may be residual redness of the penile tip but this subsides with time. During the first few days, look out for excessive bleeding, fever and production of pus from the penis. In the event that you notice any of these signs get in touch of your doctor. Failure to pass urine for 12 hours after the surgery requires to be addressed immediately.
For those that decide against circumcision, it is important to maintain hygiene as well. Daily cleaning of the uncircumcised penis as you wash the baby helps to get rid of bacterial organisms that may be harbored beneath the foreskin. Ensure that this is done gently bearing in mind that the foreskin takes about 3 years to be fully retractable.
One of the arguments that have been advanced in favor of circumcision is the fact that it helps in reducing the incidence of urinary tract infections. This is because the penis is easier to clean without the foreskin and bacterial organisms no longer have an environment to replicate and cause disease in young boys. In sexually active adults, there have been claims that circumcised men have greater sensitivity than their uncircumcised counterparts but this has not been proven scientifically.
Commonly, many residents in Toronto, ON prefer to circumcise their babies within the first 10 days before leaving the hospital. Not only is this convenient to the mother but is also easier for the baby. Older children and adults have more developed tissues and tend to stay in hospital longer as compared to the newborns. Pediatricians and obstetricians commonly perform the procedure because they are the first attendants to the baby.
There are a number of medical conditions that may prevent the procedure from being carried out immediately. Prematurity requires that the baby waits for some time for weight gain before they can be considered for the surgery. A number of boys are born with abnormalities of the urethra popularly known as hypospadia and epispadia. Whenever these conditions are noted the procedure will be delayed and the foreskin will be used for repair of the defect.
In general the procedure is safe but there are a number of complications that may be encountered. Local site infection and bleeding are fairly common but easily controlled in the hospital setting. Late onset infections also respond well to treatment with antibiotics when identified early and treated promptly. Pain is usually managed by the use of either general or local anesthesia.
It is important to maintain high levels of hygiene once the baby has been discharged from hospital. The site should be cleaned gently at least once daily with warm water. Not only will this help to minimize infections but is also important in promoting healing. Petroleum jelly helps in reducing the irritation that may be created by diapers.
If performed in the right manner, the wound will take between 7 and 10 days to heal. There may be residual redness of the penile tip but this subsides with time. During the first few days, look out for excessive bleeding, fever and production of pus from the penis. In the event that you notice any of these signs get in touch of your doctor. Failure to pass urine for 12 hours after the surgery requires to be addressed immediately.
For those that decide against circumcision, it is important to maintain hygiene as well. Daily cleaning of the uncircumcised penis as you wash the baby helps to get rid of bacterial organisms that may be harbored beneath the foreskin. Ensure that this is done gently bearing in mind that the foreskin takes about 3 years to be fully retractable.
About the Author:
When you are looking for information about newborn circumcision, you can pay a visit to the web pages online here today. Details are available at http://www.babycircumcision.ca now.
No comments :
Post a Comment