Pros of circumcision in adult men

Reducing the risk of contracting STDs. Research (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20622758/, New England Journal of Medicine. April 10, 1997) has shown that male circumcision reduces the likelihood of contracting HIV by approximately 60%, and protects against herpes simplex virus, papilloma, syphilis, trichomonas (although many experts deny this). There is no evidence regarding chlamydial and gonococcal infections. They penetrate the urethra, but nothing happens to it during circumcision.

What explains this effect? A moist environment is created under the foreskin, which is favorable for the development of pathogens. During sex, they get under the fold and penetrate into thin skin. The foreskin is especially vulnerable to HIV due to the specificity of its cells. In circumcised men, there is no fold, the scalp is rougher, which reduces the risk of infection.

Urologist-andrologist, plastic surgeon Ruslan Yuryevich Petrovich tells why surgery to circumcise the foreskin of the penis is performed and to whom it is recommended

Aesthetics. Some people are confused by the fold of skin on the penis (foreskin). It may be too large and cover the head like a hood, even during an erection. After circumcision, the head is completely exposed, the foreskin is carefully sewn under it. Many men and their partners are satisfied with the aesthetic results of the operation.

Circumcision before and after (photo by Dr. Babykin: https://uro-forum.ru/viewtopic.php?t=124#cut) – https://prntscr.com/te1o06.

Elimination of high sensitivity of the head of the penis. In the first month after surgery, the head becomes hypersensitive - this is normal. Gradually her skin will harden. The degree of reduction in the sensitivity of the head after circumcision varies from person to person. For some, the time of sexual intercourse is prolonged, the degree of pleasure from oral sex decreases, while for others, all sensations after a while return to their previous level. The effect can be checked in advance using a lidocaine test or sex with an anesthetic. If sexual intercourse is prolonged, it means that the head is really very sensitive and circumcision will help correct this.

Read how else you can reduce the sensitivity of the head of the penis.

An example of a review about the sensations after surgery (you can read in full here https://thequestion.ru/questions/145885/kakie_pliusy_i_minusy_obrezaniia_3af6bddd)

Reviews from men about sensations (https://uro-forum.ru/viewtopic.php?t=1394)

Elimination of phimosis, paraphimosis. Circumcision is the only adequate method of radically getting rid of these problems. In the absence of the foreskin, the risk of developing its inflammation (balanitis) and pinching of the head is eliminated. Surgery is especially relevant for cicatricial deformity.

The result of circumcision due to phimosis - https://prntscr.com/te1qop.

Improved hygiene. Maintaining genital hygiene really becomes easier. There is no need to retract the foreskin and wash away the accumulated smegma from under it, which is a favorable environment for the development of bacteria and a source of unpleasant odor.

Smegma is a secretion secreted by the sebaceous glands of the inner layer of the foreskin of the penis.

After circumcision, the frenulum does not pull, there is no risk of microtears. Many men have experienced terrible sensations when the frenulum is partially or completely torn during intense sex. This is not only pain and a large amount of blood, but also subsequent scarring.

After 30-40 years, circumcision is also done, but much less frequently. One should take into account the fact that with age, the speed and quality of tissue regeneration decreases. In adult men, scars and adhesions may form, which does not add aesthetics to the penis. If the operation is carried out correctly, then there should be no problems. Men get new sensations, as in the review below (forum https://hron-prostatit.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11077&start=20):

If you decide to circumcise a boy: consequences, pros and cons

The debate about the benefits and harms of circumcision in boys, whether to do it or not, has not faded away for many decades.

If in Russian society only 11.8% of men have undergone this procedure, then in the United States about 71.2% of the stronger sex do not have a foreskin (only about 1.7% of the American population are Jews).

Why is it so popular in the States? What consequences can child circumcision have? Should a boy be circumcised? Let's look at the pros and cons.

“No foreskin” - adherents of circumcision

According to statistics, in countries where getting rid of the foreskin is a tradition - Israel, Saudi Arabia - cancer of the genital organs is very rare among men.

Women here suffer from uterine cancer 6-7 times less often than throughout the world. This is the main argument that John Kennedy used when campaigning for the United States to get rid of the “intimate fold of skin.”

Since then, circumcision has remained a tradition in almost all families in America.

In addition, adherents of circumcision believe that if there is no foreskin, it reduces the risk of AIDS, since it is from the covering fold of skin that infection with viruses and infections begins.

After surgery, the sensitivity of the penis decreases. When there is no foreskin, the duration of sexual intercourse increases. But this is both a plus and a minus at the same time. After all, this part of the genitals is a powerful erogenous zone; not everyone wants to lose such a source of pleasure.

From an aesthetic point of view, many women like a circumcised penis, which looks more well-groomed and neater. It is worth remembering the moment from the series “Sex and the City”, where Charlotte gets a new boyfriend, and he turns out to be uncircumcised. This causes a storm of indignation on the part of the heroine and her friends.

Unnecessary procedure?

After circumcision (circumcision), it is necessary to constantly maintain the hygiene of the baby’s genital organ. Microbes quickly accumulate in the seams near the head of the penis. But this is a temporary disadvantage.

Many people believe that a circumcised penis is cleaner. However, this is a misconception. The foreskin protects the penis from dirt from the outside. Consequently, its absence takes away this filtering function.

Painful shock is a common occurrence during circumcision. After all, it was only in the last decade that the procedure began to be pain-free. Before this, the operation was performed without anesthesia even on infants.

Dr. Komarovsky believes that all the “significant” medical advantages of circumcision have not been proven.

The foreskin has a protective function and plays an important role in the immune system. Circumcision for a healthy person for medical reasons has no meaning.

Doctor Komarovsky

Whether to cut or not is up to the parents of the baby to decide. But it is worth understanding that from an ethical point of view, this operation is a violation of the child’s right to preserve the integrity of his body. Iceland is considering a bill to ban circumcision of babies unless medically required. The authorities want to introduce punishment up to prison for this cruel violation of the child's will.

Think about it, maybe leave this choice to the boy. If he really wants to undergo the procedure as an adult, then there are clinics where he can perform the operation of his own free will without serious consequences.

Source: https://imom.me/syna-chik-chik-chem-opasno-obrezanie/

Disadvantages of circumcision

Postoperative discomfort. No doctor can predict how painful and difficult the postoperative period will be in each specific case. Some men suffer from erections and severe pain for several nights after circumcision, while others sleep peacefully. Pain at the suture site may subside after 4-5 days, or may persist for 2-3 months.

Here's what the statistics from the forum https://uro-forum.ru/viewtopic.php?t=1842 look like:

Insufficient or excessive removal of the foreskin. In the first case, the effect of circumcision is weak, and in the second, due to the tension of the skin, the penis is deformed, pain occurs during an erection, and the scrotum is pulled forward and forms a so-called sail.

Photo of the sail-shaped scrotum – https://prntscr.com/te1u2r.

Unaesthetic appearance. This problem often occurs after surgery performed by a non-professional surgeon. After circumcision, “scallops”, “fins”, and scars remain in the area of ​​the head. Such errors have to be corrected by other specialists. Corrective surgeries usually cost more than primary circumcision.

Results of unsuccessful circumcision and their correction - https://prntscr.com/te1uq6.

Too much reduction in sensitivity of the head of the penis. Although doctors on forums unanimously claim that circumcision does not harm sexual life, practice shows the opposite. In some men, a few months after surgery, the sensitivity of the head disappears completely. Doctors are inclined to believe that this is more of a psychological problem.

Find out how you can increase the sensitivity of the glans penis.

An example of the situation below (site https://sprosivracha.com/questions/149940-chuvstvitelnost-golovki-chlena-posle-i-vo-vremya-kontakta):

Risks of surgery. During circumcision, there is a risk of damage to nerve endings, which causes erectile dysfunction and loss of sensation. This likelihood is especially high among older men. An example of the situation is given below (forum https://ro-ru.ru/viewtopic.php?t=3426&start=30):

In addition, there are cases of infection and suture dehiscence. You have to wash the wound and stitch it up again, leaving drainage. Repeated interventions increase the risk of cicatricial deformation of the penis.

Difficulties of circumcision with cicatricial phimosis. If surgery is performed for purely aesthetic purposes, the patient can choose how much skin to remove. In case of cicatricial deformity, the doctor excises the foreskin based on the degree of its damage. Sometimes too much has to be removed and the problems described above arise (scrotal sail, penile curvature).

Pros and cons of circumcision in boys

pros

Accelerated healing process. In children, tissues are elastic and recover quickly. The aesthetic result is usually satisfactory.

Prevention of phimosis. Many parents of boys are concerned about the incomplete opening of the head of the penis and frequent inflammation. Some are trying to stretch, others are waiting for the elasticity of the foreskin to increase on its own with changes in hormonal levels. After circumcision there are no more such problems.

Pediatrician Evgeniy Olegovich Komarovsky on when to circumcise the foreskin in boys with phimosis

Prevention of inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary tract. In the absence of a foreskin, microbes have nowhere to linger and multiply.

Reducing the risk of head cancer, HIV, herpes, papillomatosis. With the onset of sexual activity, a circumcised young man will indeed be protected to some extent from such diseases.

Minuses

Pain from surgery and risk of infection. Intervention is not always justified. The likelihood of penile cancer decreases by only 0.2%, genitourinary infections - 1-0.5%, and childhood phimosis requires circumcision in only 2% of cases. There is an opinion among doctors that the operation does not reduce, but rather increases the risk of developing infectious diseases, since the head is deprived of natural protection and lubrication.

Severe stress. Subsequently, psychological problems with sexual life may arise.

Lack of choice and consequences. If there is no direct evidence, then removing the foreskin without the informed consent of the child is unethical. When a boy grows up, the sensitivity of his head may not be enough to enjoy regular sex.

Postoperative care

Any wound is a potential “gateway” for infection. Therefore, correct behavior in the postoperative period eliminates most undesirable consequences.

The following recommendations for care after circumcision in boys should be followed:

1. Provide your child with a favorable emotional background. He should feel comfortable and calm.
2. If possible, try to tell older children honestly about the essence of the procedure performed and its purpose.
3. For the first few weeks, avoid heavy physical activity and a hot bath, as well as wearing tight underwear.
4. Considering the location of the postoperative wound, dressing and surface treatment should be frequent - at least 6 times a day. The doctor will do this for the first few days, so it makes sense for parents to learn the correct sequence of actions.
5. Before changing the dressing, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and put on clean medical gloves. After this, the bandage is removed (if it fits tightly, soak it), and the wound is washed with an antiseptic (Miramistin, Chlorhexidine). If necessary, apply ointments indicated by the doctor to speed up the healing process (Levomekol).

The sutures are removed after a week, but some surgeons use completely absorbable material (but you still need to show the boy to the doctor on days 7-10). Next, parents will be required to explain the rules of intimate hygiene and monitor their compliance.

Pros and cons of different male circumcision regimens

Depending on the amount of foreskin removed, tight, non-tight (regular) and partial circumcision are distinguished, and according to the location of the seam relative to the head - complete and incomplete (more information about the types of circumcision). All are equally effective for preventing phimosis. With the standard version, a little loose skin remains, which reduces tension during an erection.

Tight circumcision is preferred by men who undergo surgery to reduce sensitivity of the glans. It always remains open along with the coronary sulcus, but the amount of skin left does not play a role in reducing sensitivity. This type of circumcision is contraindicated for men with pubic obesity (adiposis) because a lot of skin will need to be removed to expose the glans. After losing weight there will be a very strong tension.

High circumcision leaves too little skin. From a medical point of view, there are no advantages. On the contrary, the risk of injury to the area around the head and subsequent infection increases.

High circumcision (the work of Dr. Babykin) – https://prntscr.com/te231n.

Laser circumcision (carried out with a radio wave knife) is significantly superior to a classic scalpel. Advantages: no blood, no risk of infection, fast healing (up to 10 days).

Detailed information about the benefits of surgery using a laser beam from a urologist at the MED CITY clinic