circumcisionWhat are the pros and cons of circumcision? Medical, sexual, emotional, financial? Looking for stats and studies backing up this information.
Pro: Circumcision prevents phimosis (the inability to retract the foreskin at an age when it should normally be retractable), paraphimosis (the painful inability to return the foreskin to its original location), and balanoposthitis (inflammation of the glans and foreskin).1
Pro: Circumcision may result in a decreased incidence of urinary tract infections.1
Pro: Circumcision may result in a lower incidence of sexually transmitted diseases and may reduce HIV transmission.1
Pro: Circumcision may lower the risk for cancer of the cervix in sexual partners.2
Pro: Circumcision may decrease the risk for cancer of the penis.1
Con: Circumcision increases the chance of meatitis (inflammation of the opening of the penis). It also gives rise to other minor but manageable problems. 3
Victorian era:
During the Victorian era, male circumcision was prescribed as a treatment for masturbation, which may be the reason for the widespread cultural, non-religious circumcision of American baby boys. Source: http://sexuality.stackexchange.com/questions/210/what-kind-of-anti-masturbation-devices-were-made-by-the-victorians-and-why
Judaism:
The rite of circumcision (brit milah) is one of the most ancient practices of Judaism. The commandment to circumcise male children was given to Abraham in the Torah (Genesis 17:714 and repeated in Leviticus 12:3). Source: https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/circumcision.html
Islam:
But unlike the Jewish tradition, in Islam, circumcision is not a symbol of Allah’s covenant with humans.
“Circumcision is a sunnah (customary or traditional) for the men. Most references to male circumcision occur in the examples and traditions of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Therefore the scholars strongly recommend circumcision for male. Source: http://convertingtoislam.com/circum.html
Hutson, JM. “Symposium on circumcision Circumcision: a surgeon’s perspective.” Journal of Medical Ethics. 30 (2004):238-240. http://jme.bmj.com/content/30/3/238.full
Castellsagué X, Bosch F, Muñoz N. “The male role in cervical cancer.” Salud Publica Mex. 2003;45 Suppl 3:S345-53. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14746027
Krill AJ, Palmer LS, and Palmer JS. “Complications of Circumcision.” Scientific World Journal. 2011; 11: 2458–2468. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3253617/
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