Parents have different opinions about newborn male circumcision based on medical, religious, cultural, and ethnic traditions and personal reasons. Some parents choose circumcision. Some parents do not choose circumcision. Parents who are undecided should talk with their child’s doctor before their baby is born. They can learn about the benefits and risks of circumcision to help them choose what is best for their baby. Here is more information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) about circumcision.
At birth, males have skin that covers the end of the penis, called the foreskin. Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin, exposing the tip of the penis. Circumcision is usually performed by a doctor in the first few days after birth. The surgery should be done under sterile conditions with adequate pain management. (See Is circumcision painful?) A newborn must be stable and healthy to safely be circumcised. Because circumcision may...
