(Concern) Older elementary school boys... Is circumcision necessary?

I worry and try again...

My husband and I still haven't found a solution to our dilemma!!!

 

 

Circumcision remains a controversial topic even within the medical community.

The groom also did it, of course.

My younger brother was a year or two younger than our son.

Men say that circumcision is better for cleanliness and overall health.

 

If my son's wound frequently gets infected and smells bad.

If you often say you're in pain or itchy, I probably wouldn't have worried.

My son has rarely done that before.

 

 

I think it would be good to keep it clean for later and to prevent skin infections...

Should a young child have to endure that pain...

He's a child who is extremely afraid of getting injections or being pricked...

 

Moreover, there are more side effects than I expected.

Delayed wound healing, sensory impairment, erectile dysfunction, scar formation, etc...

If an unexpected side effect occurs, it cannot be undone, right?

 

Even when I look for related articles, I can't find a definitive answer...

 

When reading about the cases where circumcision is necessary and its effectiveness in preventing infectious diseases... I think I should do it...

 

When the husband casually mentioned luck to my son, he completely freaked out and threw a fit... ㅠㅠ

It seems I still don't have any friends among my son's friends... Sigh...

Should I do it before it's too late...

Or should we make it a little bigger so they can choose for themselves...

I'm really struggling with a lot of worries ㅠㅠ

 

Below... after carefully reading related articles...

I understand the effects, but hmm... I'm 고민입니다.

Mothers raising sons!!! How have you all been doing? ㅠㅠ

First, I took my son and went to the hospital.

If the doctor says, "It seems your son doesn't need a circumcision," does that mean he doesn't have to undergo the procedure?

By the way... Would you even say something like that? Hahaha... ㅠ_ㅠ

 

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"Is circumcision really necessary?" There are debates both among the general public and within the medical community regarding the necessity of male circumcision.

In the past, circumcision was mostly performed on boys brought in by their parents. Recently, there has been an increase in cases where individuals choose to undergo the procedure voluntarily after college entrance exams or before enlisting in the military.

So, circumcision is an essential procedure, and if necessary, when is the best time to perform it? Conversely, are there cases where surgery is not needed? With the help of Professor Lee Dong-ki from the Department of Urology at Gangdong Kyunghee University Hospital, we have addressed common questions about circumcision.

▶Cases where circumcision is necessary and its effectiveness in preventing infectious diseases

Phimosis (包莖‧phimosis) refers to a condition where the opening of the foreskin (包皮‧prepuc) is narrow, preventing the foreskin from being fully pulled back behind the glans penis. Circumcision is a surgical procedure that removes the foreskin to expose the glans externally. In Western countries, it is called circumcision, named after the method of the surgery.

Generally, indications for circumcision include recurrent balanoposthitis, phimosis, and paraphimosis. Paraphimosis refers to a condition where the foreskin, after being retracted behind the glans, becomes trapped and cannot return to its original position.

If circumcision is present, bacteria around the glans increase, which can cause hygiene issues. It has been reported that boys who have undergone circumcision have a lower incidence of febrile urinary tract infections compared to those who have not.

In addition, it has been confirmed that the preventive effect against urinary tract infections is even greater in cases of recurrent infections or congenital anomalies such as vesicoureteral reflux.

In cases of congenital penile deformities such as micropenis, buried penis, ventral curvature of the penis, or hypospadias, specialized surgical procedures different from circumcision, such as penile reconstruction or urethroplasty, are essential, requiring expert consultation and appropriate surgery.

▶Reduction in transmissible diseases and decrease in spouse vaginitis occurrence

Circumcision is also known to have a preventive effect on certain sexually transmitted diseases. The main diseases include HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), HPV (human papilloma virus), and HSV (herpes simplex virus type I) infections.

Additionally, the effect of reducing the occurrence of bacterial vaginitis in the spouse has been identified, and it is also a method that can fundamentally resolve skin diseases of the penis such as balanitis and phimosis.

However, the impact on bacterial sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia is known to be minimal.

Penile cancer is a relatively rare tumor, but it has the advantage of resolving potential inflammatory conditions between the glans and foreskin through circumcision and reducing the risk of penile cancer associated with human papillomavirus infection.

If the circumcised state persists after puberty, surgery is strongly recommended to prevent penile cancer. Additionally, studies have shown that circumcision reduces the incidence of high-risk human papillomavirus infections associated with cervical cancer by 63%, and there are reports indicating that in women who have had multiple sexual partners, the presence or absence of circumcision in their partners can reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer by more than 50%.

However, some argue that the preventive effect of circumcision against penile cancer is minimal because the occurrence of the cancer itself is very rare, and that simply improving hygiene is sufficient for prevention. There are also opinions that since the human papillomavirus vaccine has been developed, circumcision is unnecessary.

▶Having surgery performed by an experienced doctor results in almost no complications

For boys and children, general anesthesia is required during circumcision. The risk of death related to general anesthesia is about 1 in 400,000, which is not significantly higher compared to adults. However, if the patient is a premature infant with a vulnerable health status or has a family history indicating a tendency for bleeding, preoperative assessment is necessary.

Local anesthesia is known to be safer than general anesthesia, but since children often have difficulty cooperating during surgery, general anesthesia is recommended.
Surgical complications include bleeding and infection, with an incidence rate reported to be between 1% and 3%. The occurrence of complications is influenced by the patient's age, the surgical method, and the surgeon's experience.

Very rarely, injuries to the penis or urethra, such as amputation of the glans or penis, urethral strictures, urethral ulcers, or fistulas, have been reported.

When conducting long-term follow-up after circumcision, there is a possibility of excessive or insufficient foreskin remaining, as well as the occurrence of penile torsion or retraction. However, in the hands of an experienced surgeon, complications related to the procedure are rare.

 

▶ "Newborns and infants should avoid surgery unless absolutely necessary."

The foreskin is rich in nerve endings and plays an important role in sexual sensation. Therefore, there is an argument that circumcision may reduce satisfaction during sexual intercourse. On the other hand, some believe it can help alleviate premature ejaculation.

Results also indicate that there is no significant decrease in sensation or satisfaction due to circumcision or lack thereof. The latter case, with more research subjects and a higher level of validation, is considered more reliable.
It is true that sensation decreases due to keratin buildup on the glans after surgery, but the dorsal nerve, which plays a crucial role in sexual sensation, is not damaged by the surgical method, so the claim that circumcision negatively affects sexual activity is unconvincing.

The preventive effect of circumcision against viral diseases has been established regardless of the region. Even if the surgery is not performed during infancy or early childhood, the benefits can still be obtained if it is done before sexual activity begins, so the surgery can be recommended.

Additionally, a urology specialist's examination is necessary to determine if there are any penile abnormalities requiring circumcision, even if the patient does not wish to undergo surgery. If there is no medical indication for surgery, it is preferable to refrain from performing circumcision during the neonatal or infant stage, when the individual has no decision-making authority.

Help: Professor Lee Dong-gi, Department of Urology, Gangdong Kyunghee University Hospital

Source:Healtip (https://www.healtip.co.kr)