Should a Newborn Baby Be Circumcised?

Part of parenting is ensuring that the right decisions are made. That is why parents usually take all the time they need to ensure that they are making the right or appropriate decision. There are tons of questions that parents generally ask.

From deciding what to name their child to health decisions, parents usually make the tough calls. One of these questions includes knowing whether a newborn baby should get circumcised or not.

For the most part, parents rely on research, traditions, advice from relatives or health professionals, and even gut feelings.

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What is circumcision?

According to Mayo Clinic, this procedure is the removal of the skin that covers the skin. Usually, circumcision is done on newborn baby boys. This surgical procedure is prevalent in certain parts of the world, including the United States. There are several reasons why parents choose to have their children circumcised.

Sometimes, it is because of religion, a medical condition, or hygienic reasons. However, some parents still wonder whether having their baby undergo the procedure is worth it.

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What are the Benefits of Circumcision?

Mayo Clinic says that there might be various health benefits of having a circumcision. Some of these benefits are:

• Lower risk of having penile cancer
• Easier cleaning of the male organ
• Lesser risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections
• Possible stoppage of penile problems

Aside from these, here are some considerations that parents may take into account to answer the question of whether a newborn baby should get circumcised.

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According to Medical Experts

In an article by ABC Everyday, it was mentioned that medical experts' opinions vary on the subject matter. Some medical experts believe that the risks of having circumcision outweigh the benefits of having one. These benefits also include avoiding future diseases.

The experts who stand by this belief are the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, and the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand. On the other hand, the Circumcision Academy of Australia (CAA) believes otherwise. According to the experts from the CAA, the health benefits greatly outweigh the risks.

According to Religion

According to an article from the BBC, male circumcision is usually done for religious reasons and not health reasons. For example, those of the Jewish faith and Muslims are required to practice male circumcision. While Christians and other religions usually have the choice.

According to a Psychosexual Therapist

Dr. Armin Ariana explained in the article from ABC Everyday the possible reasons as to why some fathers want their sons to be circumcised. Dr. Ariana said that the father could be exhibiting a psychological defense mechanism called projection.

She further explained, "Through that projection, the father may see himself differently to their son [if uncircumcised] and therefore having him circumcised would be a relief to that body image issue."

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