Circumcision is a personal choice and should be discussed with your physician. They can inform you of the potential advantages and potential risks associated with circumcision.
Infants, children and teenagers may experience pain and brain changes that could lead to mood disorders in later life. But these risks should be balanced against the many health advantages of circumcision for males – such as reduced risks of HIV infection and genital warts.
Reduces the risk of sexually transmitted infections
Circumcision Melbourne can benefit your health by decreasing the risk of certain sexually transmitted infections. These include genital discharge syndrome, nonspecific or nongonococcal urethritis (NSU), gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital herpes, chancroid, syphilis, herpes simplex virus infection and human papillomavirus infection.
Circumcision has long been held to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). To test this theory, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted on studies on its impact on STIs.
Analysis of incidence data showed that intact men had a higher risk for GUD, GDS, NSU and any other STI when adjusted for lead-time bias. Most specific STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes simplex virus and HPV were not significantly impacted by circumcision. Syphilis showed mixed results; some prevalence studies suggested intact men were at greater risk while incidence studies suggested otherwise.
Increases sexual sensitivity
Many men opt for circumcision during childhood, but there can be other reasons why it may be beneficial or necessary for adults to undergo the procedure as well. Sometimes this is done for health reasons or to protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
In some cases, aesthetic reasons may be the driving force. No matter the case, it’s essential that you weigh all potential benefits and drawbacks before making your decision.
The glans penis (head of the penis) is filled with touch receptors, making it sensitive to a variety of sensations. Some people believe that circumcision dulls these receptors and makes sex more uncomfortable or unpleasant.
Studies of high quality have confirmed that circumcision does not result in diminished penile sensitivity compared to uncircumcised men. They examined various stimuli, such as vibrational and thermal sensitivity.
Reduces the risk of genital warts
One of the more remarkable effects of circumcision is its potential to reduce genital wart risk. Studies have found that men who have undergone circumcision have an 11% lower likelihood of getting these small but noticeable growths than their uncircumcised counterparts. Furthermore, circumcised boys will be less likely to develop urinary tract infections during childhood than uncircumcised ones.
Circumcision is a safe and straightforward operation that can be performed on children of any age, from infants to teens. A healthcare provider will use a scalpel to remove the foreskin with local anesthesia; the process may take several hours so babies should be fed and changed as necessary during this time. After circumcision, expect swelling and bruises around the area for several weeks; pain medication will help ease any discomfort. To keep your baby’s penis dry and clean after each diaper change, apply petroleum jelly at least once daily.
Reduces the risk of HIV
Male circumcision remains a controversial topic, yet there is compelling epidemiological evidence that it reduces the risk of HIV infection. Multiple randomized clinical trials conducted in Kenya, Uganda and South Africa have demonstrated that circumcised men are up to 50-60% less likely to acquire HIV during heterosexual interactions compared to non-circumcised counterparts.
However, circumcision does not provide 100% protection from HIV infection; men who are HIV positive can still infect those around them. Nonetheless, circumcised men can take steps to reduce their risk of contracting HIV, such as using condoms consistently, limiting sexual partners to one per man, delaying beginning sexual relations and seeking testing, counseling and treatment for HIV.
These measures should be implemented as part of a comprehensive approach to HIV prevention. Not only does male circumcision reduce the risk of HIV transmission, it also decreases other sexually transmitted infections like syphilis and genital herpes. This is because under the foreskin, an area under the penis can become fertile ground for germs to flourish.