YOUR HEALTH

Circumcision Rules!

Whether circumcision should be banned or not is a hot issue in Europe and especially Germany where it has come before the courts and even involved Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany.

In Canada, since 1996, the pediatrician society (CPS) has considered circumcision unnecessary and so too did the American equivalent, the AAP, until very recently --  when follow up evidence made it now approve the procedure.

The wide benefits of circumcision and AAP findings were highlighted in a recent  article entitled” Should boys be circumcised? ...”  (G&M, Aug 28,12 A8)  by Andre Picard.  When current evidence and scientific pros and cons are examined – guess what -- there are no cons or harmful effects, just many and diverse benefits.

Circumcision significantly reduces instances of urinary tract infections in newborn males.  The absence of a foreskin has also been shown to prevent the acquisition (and further transmission) of many sexually transmitted diseases among sexually active males – be they teenagers or octogenarians. The benefits to female partners are also statistically significant.  Put simply, the removal of the foreskin eliminates a common ‘hiding’ place for various infections, bacteria and viruses -- including herpes.   

Removing the foreskin also reduces the chances of (rare) male penile cancer and, according to a medical study in 1982, some 15% of all males would need the procedure by adulthood as some foreskins are not elastic enough to adapt to the male’s increase in body size (from infancy to adulthood), and particularly  during sexual arousal.  The result is a painful squeezing of the penis head that can be excruciating.   Just ask Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who had to be circumcised after he got to university.

Finally circumcised males have significantly reduced rates of HIV -- which can lead to deadly AIDS  -- and requires costly and daily drug cocktails for the rest of one’s life. The reduced HIV rate among gay men is 15% in North America and a whopping 60% among all males in Africa (where heterosexual transmission is the norm). 

On the other hand, the article notes that anti-circumcision claims  --  that removing the foreskin harms the organ and reduces sexual pleasure and functioning -- are WRONG and without medical or real scientific proof.

As a final note, it should be remembered that the procedure to remove the foreskin is the most common surgery in the world today and throughout Jewish and Muslim history, and has very little risk.

 While Jews and Muslims practice circumcision on religious grounds -- going back to the Bible and Abraham. Isaac and Ishmael (Jews at 8 days of life, Muslims between ages 2 and age 13), its medical benefits are surprising extensive and lifelong.

 It is therefore unfortunate that in Europe and among large parts of North America and elsewhere there are movements to keeping the foreskin and staying ‘natural’.  

In a world with HIV/ AIDS and a ‘blooming’ of new treatment-resistant   superbugs, maybe it is time the return-to-nature mindset gets a rethink.