Circumcision is one of the first significant decisions made by baby boys’ parents. It is an optional procedure where the doctor will remove the skin sleeve that covers a boy’s penis. For some, you should do it on a newborn, and others see it done when they are a little older, while others forgo the procedure altogether.

If you are wondering what you should do should the time come, here are the frequently asked questions about circumcision for baby boys.

Is It a Requirement to Have a Baby Boy Circumcised?

For some, baby boy circumcision is a must-do procedure since religion dictates it, while others just say it is done because it is a cultural requirement.

Circumcision is indeed a requirement for males born into Jewish religions. While it is not necessarily a requirement in other Christian sects, it is still a tradition.

For those not born into any of these religions, there is no need for circumcision. There are also the opinions that this should be optional, and the decision should be left up to the baby boy himself once he reaches an age to understand the implications of this decision.

What Are the Benefits of Having a Baby Boy Circumcised?

Those who still decide to go on with circumcision for their baby boys will be worried about how it will affect their child’s health. Here are the benefits that you can expect from having a baby boy circumcised.

Studies have shown that it is the foreskin that tends to allow sexually transmitted infections to spread. If a baby boy is circumcised, there can be lower chances of getting infected with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. The foreskin also tends to trap urine and faecal matter, leading to infections.

Removing the foreskin would also prevent the child from developing urinary tract infections, which are more common in uncircumcised boys.

Finally, some say that removing the foreskin would prevent him from developing phimosis, a condition where the foreskin has difficulty retracting back, which can hinder the cleaning of the area.

What Are the Risks of Having a Baby Boy Circumcised?

If you decide to have a baby boy circumcised, especially when they are still young, there are also things to consider. There are risks associated with baby circumcision, so you must weigh these factors with the benefits to decide if it is worth it.

One of the risks is the possibility of bleeding, which can happen if the doctor is not careful in the procedure. There are also the possibilities of infection and pain, especially if the doctor is not sanitary.

There is also the possibility of failure of the operation as there is a risk of the procedure not fully removing the foreskin. If this happens, the parents will need to decide if you will need a second operation or if they will just wait for the foreskin to retract automatically on its own.

Should Parents Let Their Children Decide If They Want to Be Circumcised?

There are debates about whether it is right to let the child decide if he wants to be circumcised when he is older.

Those in favour of this say that they have the right to decide on their bodies and may not even want to be circumcised.

Some favour the parents deciding on the circumcision of the child. They say that the parents pay for the circumcision and that it is their decision if they want to circumcise their son or not since it is done for the good of their health.

Final Thoughts

There are many things to consider if you are a parent of a baby boy who is not born into a religion or culture that requires circumcision. It is not a big deal for some, but for others, it is one of the most complex decisions to make. More often than not, the decision of circumcision comes from the parents and the child’s health. As much as it is important to consider the factors, you will also have to consider the opinions of your trusty paediatrician. And if you do decide it for your baby, look for a trusted and experienced circumcision clinic.

If you’re looking for a trusted circumcision clinic in Adelaide, contact us at Adelaide Circumcision. We help parents with newborn, infant, toddler and children circumcision procedures. Book an appointment today to learn more.