Ethics

The practice of circumcision or the practice of male genital mutilation is said to be older than the recorded history. It is obviously older than the biblical account of Abraham and historically originated in eastern Africa long before this time. Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis or prepuce. The foreskin of the penis guards the sensitivity of the gland and protects it from exasperation by urine and other foreign materials. Thus, it also keeps the urinary opening against infectivity and incidental damage.

Many theories try to explain the origin of genital mutilation (circumcision). One of these theories explains that this is a way of purifying individuals and reducing sexual pleasure. They also reiterate that human sex organ was dirty and impure in some societies, thus cutting of this foreskin for men were the obvious way to purify them. Also, the removal of this foreskin on the penis reduces erogenous sensation and therefore reveals as a sacrifice for self enjoyment as a passage in the afterlife.

Jews for example, adopted this as a religious ritual and preserved this practice up today. In their beliefs, Abraham performed circumcision and removed the tip that extends beyond the gland penis. However, Moses and his sons are not circumcised (Exodus 425). Moses prohibited this ritual during his 40 years time in the wilderness. Today, Jewish religious circumcision, most commonly known as Bris Milah , is done when an individual male reach the age of eight days old. The rituals usually conducted by a trained mohel (individual who can perform circumcision), with the presence of his family and friends in a very solemn setting. On the other hand, in contrast with the Jews perspective, Romans and Greeks culture place a very high value when it comes to circumcision. They passed several laws to defend the cutting of their foreskin by banning circumcision all over their country.

In the United States, circumcision of infant boys is done for medical, cultural, religious and social purposes. This practice has become an optional option that parents made for their sons once the pediatricians or obstetricians for new born urge to do it. Consequently, families who practice Judaism or Islam may opt to do this for religious purposes and some for medical purposes. Some of these medical reasons are to protect their child against disease of the urinary tract, lower risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD), prevent phimosis (closing of the opening of the penis due to tightening of the foreskin) and prevent cancer.

In the recent studies, uncircumcised boys under the age of 20 are more likely to have urinary infections (UTI) than a circumcised one. There are also indications that uncircumcised boys are less likely to have penile cancer, STD and inflammation of penis. Since circumcision is a type of hygiene for man, this ritual seems to prevent the infections of the penis. Although, study shows that penile cancer and phimosis are very rare even in men that have not been circumcised. Also in 2002, new research showed that circumcised men are less at risk for getting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) than uncircumcised one, whose foreskin have greater concentration of cells that are targeted by HIV. Another study, showed during the same year circumcised men is less likely to contract penile human papillomavirus (HPV), sometime called wart virus because it cause warts on men genital and also been implicated in the incidence of cervical cancer in women. Thus, with this kind of incidence, American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a policy showing the evidences and researches that indicate the medical benefits of circumcision and recommending this as a routine practice for American men.

Today, the procedure of circumcision can be done by a surgical operation by well trained personnel. In the process of circumcision for infants, the foreskin is pulled tightly into a specially designed clamp that forces the foreskin away from the tip of the penis. This pressure from the clamp stops the bleeding from the blood vessels that supply the foreskin and lead to a successful operation of circumcision. On the other hand, older boys or sometimes adults, circumcision is made around the base of the foreskin, then it is pulled back (foreskin) and cut away from the tip of the penis then stitched it to close the skin edges. However, circumcision should not be done on infants with certain deformities of the penis to avoid repair. The most common on this condition is hypospadias,a congenital deformity where the urinary tract opening is not on the tip of the penis. Another is with large hydrocele or hernia that may suffer complications if circumcision is performed.

After the circumcision to an infant or adult, the wound should restore to health quickly, with typical urinary function immediately. Usually, an infant should have no impediments and be able to pass this activity normally. An adult male should be able to resume sexual intercourse normally after a period of time or after the wounds have healed. However, in terms of complications after circumcision, there are many minor complications especially if the individual performed circumcision is inexperienced. One of these is severe penile injuries that are usually rare but are serious like meningitis, sepsis and sometimes death. Hidden complications on the other hand as a result of subcutaneous masses under the skin of the penis also happened. Experts said that it this mass usually have no symptoms but if not treated could lead to serious outcomes. Thus, it is recommended to examine the penis of the infant ever checkup especially in the first year because it can easily be removed under a local anesthesia if detected.