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Manuela Lank (from Kyritz, germany) asked what advantages and disadvantages exist when her 22 year old son allows himself to be circumcised.
Dr. med Peter Raschke (specialist for urology) Circumcision protects against fungus and bacteria. If your son has come to this decision, I can only congratulate him. He would have only advantages. Between the glans and the inner part of the foreskin exists permanently a so-called moist cavity, a capillary gap, where fungus and certain bacteria (resulting from the body secretion in this area)are very welcome. Often inflammation results. With advanced age, a painful constriction of the foreskin can even result. These bacteria have a cancer-producing effect. Sexual sensations are not influenced by circumcision. The operation lasts under narcose 20 minutes; after 2-3 hours one can go home. (1) |
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Dr. Franklin Oberlaender (Psychologist)
Circumcision - a standard! In the United States due to hygienic/medical considerations and in North Africa, Israel and parts of Asia due to religious reasons, almost all males are circumcised on the foreskin of the penis. The birth rate in these countries lies above that in Germany, nothing is known of a lessening of sexual pleasure. There are also in Germany several million circumcised men, partly due to medical reasons. (2) |
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Dr.med. Theo Klotz
A tightening of the foreskin can occur at every age. This is a very common affection. In general the foreskin moves freely over the glans. Inborn tightening of the foreskin is relatively seldom. Following inflammations, or splitting of the skin, however, a scar and tightening can result, which hinders the movement. Through this , new splits can occur (ex. during sex), and new inflammations begin, producing a vicious circle. Inflammation of the foreskin occurs especially by diabetics, with a resulting painful tightening of the foreskin. Not least important are the hygienic and cosmetic reasons for the treatment of a tight foreskin. Long-term tests have shown that growth of certain bacteria in the secretion under the foreskin result in a higher risk of penis cancer, and of uterus cancer for the partner. In general, a complete removal of the foreskin is best. Circumcision is a small operation which can be undertaken with local anesthesia. With children, a full anesthesia is recommendable. The operation risk is very small. Sometimes bleeding results. The cosmetic result is generally good. The circumcision should, if possible, take place when there is no inflammation. With an inborn tightening, or by repeated inflammations, a doctor should be consulted for explanations on circumcision. (3) |
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Dr. med. Schneidrzik
Circumcision is no longer only a religious ritual: it protects many men from cancer. God commanded in Genesis that all boys be circumcised: "You shall cut the foreskin from your flesh." This instruction is followed today by Jews, Moslems, and some African tribes. This originally religious ritual has now become a purely medicinal preventive measure in many countries. In the United States for example, 95% of newborn males are circumcised. For two reasons: Many boys are born with a tight foreskin, because the skin of the foreskin sticks together. Usually it separates in the first months by itself. If this doesn't happen, it grows together with resulting retention of urine. Then a direct operation is necessary. The preventive circumcision hinders this complication, and lessens as well the danger of cancer in the genital area, which is more common in uncircumcised men and their women. The reason is often insufficient hygiene of the man in the genital area. Here, sebaceous glands give off a secretion which, through insufficient cleanliness together with the dead cells of the foreskin, forms a whitish-yellow greasy substance. It has cancer-causing properties, as well as (especially in climatically warmer regions) providing good conditions for bacteria, which bring forth inflammations.(4)
References:
(1) TV Today - Ausgabe 24/97 Beilage S.11 (2) BZ Berlin auf Draht (3) MED medicine online GmbH 1996 (4) Prisma - Ausgabe 39/96 S. 52 |
