For circumcision
Against circumcision
For circumcision. Some possible benefits for performing circumcisions of baby boys can include:
Reducing urine infections. Circumcision is thought to reduce the chances of the baby developing a urine infection in the first 12 months of life from about 0.02% to 0.002%. A urinary tract infection for baby boys is not common, and is usually related to an abnormal formation of the urinary tract. If a urine infection is diagnosed, it usually needs to be treated with antibiotics. Circumcision may be recommended if the baby is uncircumcised, to reduce the chances of the infection recurring.
Reducing inflammation. Circumcision is thought to reduce the chances of the head of the penis becoming inflamed from about 6% to 3%. The medical term for this is called 'balanitis'. Balanitis is a bacterial or fungal infection of the head of the penis. It can be due to an inflamed foreskin, or a skin irritation of the head of the circumcised penis due to the baby skin being sensitive to some irritant (for example the type of nappy washing detergent used).
Balanitis is treated by bathing the penis frequently in warm water, changing the nappy frequently, allowing the baby to having some nappy-free time to expose the penis to fresh air and reducing (or eliminating) the use of soaps or bubble baths that can dry out and irritate inflamed skin. Changing the nappy solution, or switching to disposable nappies, may be of help for circumcised babies. Parents with uncircumcised boys should NOT forcefully retract the foreskin, as this will not help.
If the head of the penis continues to become very inflamed, and the baby becomes quite distressed when passing urine, the local doctor may prescribe a steroid-based cream to reduce the inflammation and/or a course of antibiotics. If balanitis recurs frequently and is a continual problem for an uncircumcised child (or adult), then a full or partial circumcision may be recommended.