Circumcision is a personal choice that parents make when welcoming a son into the world. While the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourages circumcision because of potential health benefits, the risks are not sufficient enough to fully recommend it. Parents, along with their pediatrician, can discuss circumcision and should consider your family’s medical, religious, cultural and ethnic traditions.
Medical Benefits
As your son grows, circumcision has a variety of medical benefits, including:
- Lower risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection
- A slightly lower risk of having a urinary tract infection
- Prevention of foreskin infections
- Easier genital hygiene
Common Care
If parents decide to circumcise their son, the procedure typically takes place within the first few days of life, before being discharged from the hospital. A small piece of gauze is typically placed on the head of the penis after circumcision, and will fall off after the baby urinates. It is important that the area is as clean as possible, and parents should wipe it gently with soap and water during diaper changes.
Your son’s penis may look red and have a yellow secretion for the first week or so. This will gradually go away as the penis heals. Once healed, the penis requires no additional care other than typical bathing.
If the penis doesn’t full heal within about 10 days, or you feel there is a problem, contact your pediatrician.