Circumcision is a medical term used to denote the surgical removal of the tissue of the foreskin that covers the head or glens of the penis.

Fact 1 Ancient Practice
Circumcision dates back to the ancient practice when it was done as a religious act. Today also this practice is continued in many families for religious reasons. Circumcision is a cultural or religious ritual of many Islamic and Jewish families and also some of the aboriginal tribes in Australia and Africa. Some consider this practice as a family tradition while some favor it due to hygienic reasons and preventive health care.

Fact 2 Method Of Circumcision
Circumcision can be done when a boy child is in his new-born period and even during childhood and adolescence. This is a minor surgical process where the foreskin is freed from the head of the penis and the excess skin is clipped off. If it is done after birth it does not take very long and the procedure is completed within 5 to 10 minutes and heals up quite fast. But for adults it is a complex procedure and takes about an hour to complete the surgery. The circumcision takes about a week to three weeks to heal. Circumcision in newborn babies is quite common in some parts of the world including the United States of America.

Fact 3 Benefits Of Circumcision
It has been found that there are some advantages of circumcision. They are namely:

1.  Urinary tract infections are less.
2. Fewer possibilities of diseases that are transmitted sexually in men.
3. Protects against penile cancer.
4. Prevents inflammation of the glens or foreskin
5. Prevention of phimosis and paraphimosis.
6. Circumcision helps to maintain cleanliness of the end of the penis. .

Fact 4 Risk Factors Of Circumcision
When changes are made to anything that is natural has some kind of side effects both good as well as bad. Circumcision is a surgical procedure and so there are risks related to it. However, the risk factors are not very serious but such surgeries should be carried out after considering all facts and situations and on the consent of the individual if he is an adult.

Some of the problems associated with circumcision are:

• There is pain mostly in adults.
• Risk of bleeding and infect ion at the place of circumcision.
• There may be irritation of the glens.
• The risk of inflammation at the opening of the penis or meatitis is present in circumcision.
• Risk of injury to the penis. Newborns cannot express their pain but if they cry continuously after the surgery, special care should be taken.

There are many healthcare professionals who do not support circumcision as a routine childhood surgery for various reasons and they argue that there are various disadvantages that one faces later in life like:

• Potential complications of circumcision include excessive bleeding, post-operative infection and sometimes injury to the urethra.
• Reduced sensitivity is a serious problem faced by many adults. They experience less pleasure during sex as compared to those who are not circumcised as the penis is more sensitive.

Some critics who do not support circumcision as a routine practice feel that it should be performed only on the consent of the boy and should therefore be done when he is of age and can decide for himself and not when they are just newborn babies.

Fact 5 Is circumcision necessary?
Whether it is necessary to perform circumcision or not is a debatable question. Although doctors feel that there are various advantages of this surgery it is not recommended as compulsory. If there are any health problems, them circumcision can be done any time to treat infections. Hence before taking any decisions, parents should consult the doctor.