How Important Is Circumcision For Health?

Hello Hermina Friends,

Circumcision is the process of removing the foreskin or skin that covers the tip of the penis. Not only adults and children, circumcision or circumcision can also be performed on babies.

In Indonesia, this process is generally carried out when boys enter primary school age or around 6–10 years. The older the boy or man who is circumcised, the more the risks, the level of complexity, and the longer the healing process.

Benefits of Circumcision for Health


In addition to religious orders, there are also several medical benefits of circumcision, especially for men's health. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), circumcised penises have more benefits than risks.

Conversely, an uncircumcised penis carries a number of health risks. One of them, susceptible to the development of bacteria. This is because the foreskin that is not removed can make dirt accumulate, if left continuously this can pose a health risk to the male reproductive organs.

Here are the benefits of circumcision for men that you need to know.

1. Reducing the risk of urinary tract infections

One of the benefits of circumcision for men is to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections. Research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal explains that circumcised boys have a lower risk of developing urinary tract infections than uncircumcised boys.

In addition, a study from the same source revealed that the risk of infection was around 88 percent lower in circumcised boys.

2. Reducing the risk of sexually transmitted diseases

One of the benefits of circumcision for maintaining the health of the reproductive organs is that it can reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. Men who do not have circumcision have a higher risk of experiencing sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, HPV, syphilis, herpes.

3. Prevents the risk of prostate cancer

A study published by BJU International revealed that circumcision has a protective effect against prostate cancer risk. The study found that men who were circumcised at the age of 35 had a 45% lower risk of prostate cancer.

For men or boys who are circumcised at the age of 1 year after birth can reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 14%. This is certainly very impactful for the health of the male reproductive organs.

4. Prevent balanitis
Balanitis is a sexually transmitted disease that attacks the male reproductive organs. Balanitis is inflammation of the tip of the glans penis and balanoposthitis which is inflammation of the glans and foreskin.

 

Care Steps After Circumcision

After circumcision, the penis will generally be red, bruised, and swollen. Circumcision wounds in infants take about 10 days to heal, while circumcision wounds in children and adult men take at least a month to heal.

There are several things that a newly circumcised person needs to do and pay attention to so that the wound can heal quickly, namely:

-Use loose pants or gloves to avoid friction with the penis.
- Routinely control the doctor to treat wounds and always pay attention to the cleanliness of the genitals to avoid infection. You may take a shower after being allowed by the doctor, but avoid bathing by soaking.
-Take pain relievers to reduce pain, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Sometimes, doctors will also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection after circumcision.
-Avoid strenuous activities or sports, such as cycling, weight training, or jogging. For a newly circumcised child, make sure he doesn't play or move too much first.
-Adult men who have circumcision are not advised to have sexual intercourse for about 4–6 weeks or until the circumcision wound has healed completely.

 

Some of the Risks of Circumcision that You Need to Know

Although it is beneficial for health, the circumcision procedure still has some risks, including:

-Bleeding, especially in men who have blood clotting disorders
-Infection
- Urinary tract disorders
-The foreskin may be cut too short or too long
-Residual foreskin can be reattached to the tip of the penis

It is recommended to see a doctor immediately or go to the emergency room at the nearest hospital if you experience the following after being circumcised:

- Bleeding hard to stop
-A purulent or foul-smelling discharge from the tip of the penis
The process of urination is still disturbed for several weeks after being circumcised
-The penis still looks swollen 2 weeks after circumcision
-Fever
Circumcision that was performed immediately after birth, waiting until school, or not being circumcised at all, all returned to their respective decisions. If you are still unsure, you can consult with the Sub Specialist Consultant for Pediatric Surgery at Hermina Mekarsari Hospital about the advantages and other side effects of the circumcision procedure. Including the method to be chosen, whether with a scalpel, laser, or ring circumcision.