What Is The Medical Significance Behind Circumcision?

: Admin : 2022-01-21

                 What are common traditional religious beliefs?

India is a land of diverse cultures. People following different religions live in India. Every religion practices preach and educate people to adopt culture, rituals and customs as per the holy scriptures and religious text. A Hindu child between four months to three years of his birth parts with his hair during the Mundan ceremony. Many more rituals are followed by traditional Hindu families as a mark of respect towards the religion and scientific reason behind every custom that they follow as mentioned in religious books.

Every religion has different ideas, thoughts and beliefs that are passed through several generations. Many orthodox ceremonies have been banned but there are few which are still practised to lead a healthy, spiritual life.

What is CIRCUMCISION?

MALE CIRCUMCISION is a surgical procedure that removes some or the entire foreskin from the penis. The word circumcision originates from the Latin word circum meaning round and cision or caedere means to cut. It is the most ancient historical custom, found even in Egyptian tombs. The oldest evidence of circumcision has found its origin in ancient Egypt. Egyptian mummies were examined to have foreskin and a few others who were circumscribed. Gradually it was accepted by different cultures for different reasons. The tradition began as a religious sacrifice, as a method of suppressing sexual pleasure or vice from excess sexual indulgence, as a threshold from where boy enters adulthood and aid in hygiene as prevention to different medical conditions.

 Several theories have been postulated for circumcision, one of them being it done for ritual sacrifice as an offering to the almighty. One more scientific reason behind circumcision is for a healthy precaution against infections. It is considered as a rite of passage to adulthood, as a mark of defeat or slavery or an attempt to alter aesthetics.

Male circumcision is a religious prophecy or lawful, judicially practised ritual in Judaism. It is an expected, imperative, enforced custom in Muslims. It is an accepted, common traditional ritual in some orthodox Christian churches in Africa. CIRCUMCISION is followed mainly by the Jewish and Muslim communities. It is a less common practice in Europe, America, India, Africa and China.  

Why do different religions and countries practice CIRCUMCISION?

According to Jewish laws, as mentioned in their holy scriptures, it is a rite of every Jewish male to undergo circumcision and is only postponed or pardoned in case of threat to the life and health of a child. A male child in every Jewish family follows circumcision on the eighth day of his birth as an expression of religious elements, as a positive commandment between Jews and God that they follow or believe in.

In Islam, it is done or traditionally performed as mentioned in the religious book – Quran. An uncircumcised male is not allowed to enter a holy pilgrimage place of worship called Mecca. Rich Muslims capable of making journeys have to visit Mecca once in a lifetime but only if they have followed the traditional custom of circumcision. The circumcision operation is performed in males before the onset of puberty between six and eleven years of age. It is considered an important celebration in a Muslim man's life as it marks the beginning of adulthood. In countries like Pakistan, circumcision can be done at any age from infancy to adulthood, however, the medical profession has encouraged the procedure to be done in the first week of birth to reduce health-related complications. In Iran, it is done when the child is five or six years old.

According to the Christian religion, Jesus Christ was circumcised on the eighth day of his birth. The original followers of the Christian religion were Jews who believed in circumcision. Christians and Muslims never abolished the custom of circumcision as they found it a useful hygienic precaution.

In African societies, circumcision is performed due to medical reasons during infancy. Some do follow the traditional cultural ritual with conscious cultural relevance.

What is the medical significance behind circumcision?

Conventional medicine has scientific research-based explanations to decipher, treat and cure all diseases that harm human beings. Medicines to technology-driven surgical procedures all help to heal the man. Modern-day physicians practice and preach hygiene to every patient. It is customary, fundamental and crucial in present times to follow, preserve and follow hygiene. The purpose is to avoid infections, the spread of contagious diseases. The primary aim behind personal hygiene is to prevent diseases within the community. Microorganisms, dirt, germs, unhealthy food, environment and impractical, irrational, filthy unclean routine activities cause the spread of diseases. Circumcision avoids difficult intercourse when the foreskin is very tight that is removed during the procedure. Recurrent urinary tract infections, kidney damage can be prevented after circumcision is performed.

Medical science has proved that sexually transmitted diseases occur from overindulgence incorrect, unhealthy, virulent intercourse. HIV infection, sexually transmitted genital ulcers and cancers are caused due to these unhygienic sexual habits. Mortality rates from sexually transmitted diseases have been on rising throughout the world. Research and medical studies have led to an observation that circumcision reduces the risk of HIV infection, genital ulcers and sexually transmitted infections.

Smegma is an accumulation of dead epithelial cells, skin oils and moisture from perspiration that is found in the foreskin of males. Sometimes smegma causes inflammation of the glans penis. Circumcision prevents the formation of this smegma and also prevent infection by facilitating hygiene. The risk of penile cancer is also reduced when a circumcision procedure is performed on males. It ensures penile hygiene, prevents balanitis – inflammation of glans and phimosis—a condition where the foreskin is tight and can't be pulled back over the head of the penis. Circumcision also prevents occurrence of syphilis. Medical professionals advise circumcision for safety, prophylactic reasons.

What are the ethical issues of circumcision?

Certain controversies have been raised by medical professionals regarding circumcision. While some believe that it us a safe practice to carry out circumcision to advocate hygiene in males and prevent the risk of infections, some doctors do not recommend routine circumcision in newborns. Those who oppose the procedure of circumcision believe that there are no major medical benefits of the surgery. Removal of healthy genital tissue from a minor is an ethical issue regardless of parental consent to perform the procedure on the patient. There have been proofs describing physical, sexual and psychological harm on patients on whom circumcision procedure has been performed.

How is CIRCUMCISION done?

Foreskin of the penis of a newborn male child adheres to the round tip of penis. Over a period of time foreskin separates from the head of the penis and can be pulled back. When it does not get separated and remains tight – a condition called phimosis--the patient gets infected with different diseases. Foreskin removal can save from different medical conditions.

Circumcision is a procedure to remove the foreskin of the penis. It is best if it is done after two days of childbirth in the hospital. A urologist, obstetrician or paediatrician can perform this procedure. Local or general anaesthesia is given to the patient prior to surgery. The baby on whom the circumcision is to be performed is made to lie on his back. The genital area is cleansed with antiseptic as a part of the procedure. The foreskin and glans are separated with a blunt probe or curved device called a hemostat. Clamps are medical apparatus that cut the blood supply to the foreskin, stop bleeding and protect the glans. Different types of clamps are used for infants like Glamco clamp, Plastibell and Mogen clamp. 

A Glamco clamp is used while the procedure is done, a part of the skin is first cut with a hemostat then slit with scissors. The foreskin is then drawn over the bell-shaped portion of the clamp and inserted through a hole in the base of the clamp which is later tightened. The crushing of foreskin between the bell and base plate prevents bleeding. With the help of a scalpel, the foreskin is then cut from above the base plate. The bell prevents the glans to reach the scalpel while the skin is being cut.

With the help of the Mogen clamp, the foreskin is grabbed dorsally with a straight hemostat and lifted up. The Mogen clamp is then placed between the glans and hemostat. It is placed at a certain angle to avoid removing excess skin on the ventral margin to get optimum cosmetic result. As the clamp is tied shut, the foreskin can be easily cut from the flat upper side of the clamp. After the procedure, an ointment is applied to the penis and wraps it in a gauze for healing post-surgery. The procedure takes up to twenty minutes. Recovery from circumcision takes up to eight to ten days. Circumcision of baby boys is a common procedure done for safety as a hygiene purpose and prevent incidence of infectious diseases.

A Unicric device is a single-use circumcision device that is fit to head of penis. Like the above procedures the foreskin is separated from the penile shaft and a local anesthetic is injected. The screws if the device is tightened to prevent bleeding and the foreskin of the penis is cut, using a bottom plate as a guide to visualize it. When the device is removed, the detached foreskin can be removed with the device. A skin glue is applied to the cut part to heal the incision.

What are the advanced techniques for circumcision?

Circumcision is now a daycare procedure done by expert doctors. The patient can resume work after twenty four hours of  surgery.

Shang ring is an innovative surgical procedure by fitting two concentric rings into each other, thereby crushing the prepuce or the foreskin.

In forceps guided method, the foreskin is freed from the glans and pulled out in front of the glans with the help of stout locking forceps. The foreskin is then cut using scalpel during which the glans is protected from the forceps.

In Sleeve resection, two circumferential incisions are made around the shaft while the foreskin is retracted over the glans. A straight cut is made along the shaft beside two circumferential incisions and a strip of the foreskin is removed. The two incised layers are then sutured. 

Laser circumcision is yet another advanced surgical procedure that has minimum complications.

What are the complications of circumcision?

Circumcision can cause bleeding, pain, infection, reaction to anaesthesia, irritation to tip of penis and inflammation of the penis. A circumcision procedure done by a skilled, experienced doctor reduces the risk to complications.

What are the benefits of circumcision?

It is done widely for penile hygiene. Disorders of the penis like inflammation of glans and foreskin can be prevented post circumcision procedure. Circumcision reduces the risk of HIV, sexually transmitted genital diseases and infections. Men who have undergone circumcision have a lower risk of getting cancer of penis.

Circumcision does not affect fertility nor does it interfere during intercourse. A person has normal sexual intercourse and is not painful if he is circumcised. Due to the above positive results post-surgery, circumcision is an accepted mode of treatment method world wide.

                 What are common traditional religious beliefs?

India is a land of diverse culture. People following different religions live in India. Every religion practices, preaches and educates people to adopt culture, rituals and custom as per the holy scriptures and religious text. A Hindu child between four months to three years of his birth parts with his hair during the Mundan ceremony. Many more rituals are followed by traditional Hindu families as a mark of respect towards the religion and scientific reason behind every custom that they follow as mentioned in religious books.

Every religion has different ideas, thoughts and beliefs that are passed through several generations. Many orthodox ceremonies have been banned but there are few which are still practiced to lead a healthy, spiritual life.

What is CIRCUMCISION?

MALE CIRCUMCISION is a surgical procedure that removes some or the entire foreskin from the penis. The word circumcision originates from the Latin word circum meaning round and cision or caedere means to cut. It is the most ancient historical custom, found even in Egyptian tombs. The oldest evidence of circumcision has found its origin in ancient Egypt. Egyptian mummies were examined to have foreskin and a few others who were circumscribed. Gradually it was accepted by different cultures for different reasons. The tradition began as a religious sacrifice, as a method of suppressing sexual pleasure or vice from excess sexual indulgence, as a threshold from where a boy enters adulthood and aid in hygiene as prevention to different medical conditions.

 Several theories have been postulated for circumcision, one of them being it done for ritual sacrifice as an offering to the almighty. One more scientific reason behind circumcision is for a healthy precaution against infections. It is considered as a rite of passage to adulthood, as a mark of defeat or slavery or an attempt to alter aesthetics.

Male circumcision is a religious prophecy or lawful, judicially practised ritual in Judaism. It is an expected, imperative, enforced custom in Muslims. It is an accepted, common traditional ritual in some orthodox Christian churches in Africa. CIRCUMCISION is followed mainly by the Jewish and Muslim community. It is a less common practice in Europe, America, India, Africa and China.  

Why do different religions and countries practice CIRCUMCISION?

According to Jewish laws, as mentioned in their holy scriptures, it is a rite of every Jewish male to undergo circumcision and is only postponed or pardoned in case of threat to the life and health of a child. A male child in every Jewish family follows circumcision on the eighth day of his birth as an expression of the religious element, as a positive commandment between Jews and God that they follow or believe in.

In Islam, it is done or traditionally performed as mentioned in the religious book – Quran. An uncircumcised male is not allowed to enter holy pilgrimage place of worship called the Mecca. Rich Muslims capable of making journey have to visit Mecca once in a lifetime but only if they have followed the traditional custom of circumcision. The circumcision operation is performed in males before the onset of puberty between six and eleven years of age. It is considered an important celebration in a Muslim man's life as it marks the beginning of adulthood. In countries like Pakistan, circumcision can be done at any age from infancy to adulthood, however, the medical profession has encouraged the procedure to be done in the first week of birth to reduce health-related complications. In Iran, it is done when the child is five or six years old.

According to Christian religion, Jesus Christ was circumcised on the eighth day of his birth. The original followers of the Christian religion were Jews who believed in circumcision. Christians  and Muslims never abolished the custom of circumcision as they found it useful hygienic precaution.

In African societies, circumcision is performed due to medical reasons during infancy. Some do follow the traditional cultural ritual with conscious cultural relevance.

What is the medical significance behind circumcision?

The conventional medicine has scientific research-based explanations to decipher, treat and cure all diseases that harm human beings. Medicines to technology-driven surgical procedures all help to heal the man. Modern-day physicians practice and preach hygiene to every patient. It is customary, fundamental and crucial in present times to follow, preserve and follow hygiene. The purpose is to avoid infections, spread of contagious diseases. The primary aim behind personal hygiene is to prevent diseases within the community. Microorganisms, dirt, germs, unhealthy food, environment and impractical, irrational, filthy unclean routine activities cause the spread of diseases. Circumcision avoids a difficult intercourse when the foreskin is very tight that is removed during the procedure. Recurrent urinary tract infections, kidney damage can be prevented after circumcision us performed.

Medical science has proved that sexually transmitted diseases occur from overindulgence incorrect, unhealthy, virulent intercourse. HIV infection, sexually transmitted genital ulcers and cancers are caused due to these unhygienic sexual habits. Mortality rates from sexually transmitted diseases have been on rise throughout the world. Research and medical studies have to lead to an observation that circumcision reduces the risk of HIV infection, genital ulcers and sexually transmitted infections.

Smegma is an accumulation of dead epithelial cells, skin oils and moisture from perspiration that is found in the foreskin of males. Sometimes smegma causes inflammation of the glans penis. Circumcision prevents formation of this smegma and also prevent infection by facilitating hygiene. The risk of penile cancer is also reduced when circumcision procedure is performed on males. It ensures penile hygiene, prevents balanitis – inflammation of glans and phimosis—a condition where the foreskin is tight and can't be pulled back over the head of the penis. Circumcision also prevents occurrence of syphilis. Medical professionals advise circumcision for safety, prophylactic reasons.

What are the ethical issues of circumcision?

Certain controversies have been raised by medical professionals regarding circumcision. While some believe that it us a safe practice to carry out circumcision to advocate hygiene in males and prevent risk of infections, some doctors do not recommend routine circumcision in newborns. Those who oppose the procedure of circumcision believe that there are no major medical benefits of the surgery. Removal of healthy genital tissue from a minor is an ethical issue regardless of parental consent to perform the procedure on the patient. There has been proof describing physical, sexual and psychological harm on patients on whom circumcision procedure has been performed.

How is CIRCUMCISION done?

The foreskin of the penis of a newborn male child adheres to the round tip of the penis. Over a period of time foreskin separates from head of the penis and can be pulled back. When it does not get separated and remains tight – a condition called phimosis--the patient gets infected with different diseases. Foreskin removal can save you from different medical conditions.

Circumcision is a procedure to remove foreskin of penis. It is best if it is done after two days of childbirth in the hospital. A urologist, obstetrician or paediatrician can perform this procedure. Local or general anesthesia is given to the patient prior to surgery. The baby on whom the circumcision is to be performed is made to lie on his back. The genital area is cleansed with antiseptic as a part of the procedure. The foreskin and glans are separated with a blunt probe or curved device called hemostat. Clamps are medical apparatus that cut the blood supply to the foreskin, stop bleeding and protect the glans. Different types of clamps are used for infants like Glamco clamp, Plastibell and Mogen clamp. 

A Glamco clamp is used while the procedure is done, a part of the skin is first cut with a hemostat then slit with scissors. The foreskin is then drawn over the bell-shaped portion of the clamp and inserted through a hole in the base of the clamp which is later tightened. The crushing of foreskin between the bell and base plate prevents bleeding. With the help of a scalpel, the foreskin is then cut from above the base plate. The bell prevents the glans to reach the scalpel while the skin is being cut.

With the help of Mogen clamp, foreskin is grabbed dorsally with a straight hemostat and lifted up. The Mogen clamp is then placed between glans and hemostat. It is placed at a certain angle to avoid removing excess skin on the ventral margin to get optimum cosmetic results. As the clamp is tied shut, the foreskin can be easily cut from the flat upper side of the clamp. After the procedure, an ointment is applied to the penis and wrapped in gauze for healing post-surgery. The preocedure takes upto twenty minutes. Recovery from circumcision takes upto eight to ten days. Circumcision of baby boys is a common procedure done for safety as a hygiene purpose and prevent incidence of infectious diseases.

A Unicric device is a single-use circumcision device that is fit to the head of the penis. Like the above procedures, the foreskin is separated from the penile shaft and a local anaesthetic is injected. The screws of the device are tightened to prevent bleeding and the foreskin of the penis is cut, using a bottom plate as a guide to visualize it. When the device is removed, the detached foreskin can be removed with the device. Skin glue is applied on the cut part to heal the incision.

What are the advanced techniques for circumcision?

Circumcision is now a daycare procedure done by expert doctors. The patient can resume work after twenty-four hours of surgery.

Shang ring is an innovative surgical procedure by fitting two concentric rings into each other, thereby crushing the prepuce or the foreskin.

In the forceps guided method, the foreskin is freed from the glans and pulled out in front of the glans with the help of stout locking forceps. The foreskin is then cut using a scalpel during which the glans is protected from the forceps.

In Sleeve resection, two circumferential incisions are made around the shaft while the foreskin is retracted over the glans. A straight cut is made along the shaft beside two circumferential incisions and a strip of the foreskin is removed. The two incised layers are then sutured. 

Laser circumcision is yet another advanced surgical procedure that has minimum complications.

What are the complications of circumcision?

Circumcision can cause bleeding, pain, infection, reaction to anaesthesia, irritation to the tip of the penis and inflammation on the penis. A circumcision procedure done by skilled, experienced doctor reduces the risk of complications.

What are the benefits of circumcision?

It is done widely for penile hygiene. Disorders of the penis like inflammation of glans and foreskin can be prevented post circumcision procedure. Circumcision reduces the risk of HIV, sexually transmitted genital diseases and infections. Men who have undergone circumcision have lower risk of getting cancer of penis.

Circumcision does not affect fertility nor does it interfere during intercourse. A person has a normal sexual intercourse and is not painful if he is circumcised. Due to the above positive results post-surgery, circumcision is an accepted mode of treatment method worldwide.