madbr3991
June 21st, 2010, 17:55
i pulled the circumcision info from this book
excerpt from book was made in 1989
What to expect the first year
By Arlene Eisenberg, FJeidi E, Murkoff, and Sanded E. Hathaway, B.S.N. Authors of What to Expect When You 're Expecting.
With a Foreword by Henry Harris, JVLD., FA.A.P., Albert Einstein Medical Center, New York City.
page 17
CIRCUMCISION
"I thought that circumcision was routine nowadays, but the pediatrician I'll be using said that it's not really necessary."
Circumcision is probably the oldest medi*cal procedure still performed. Though the most widely known historical record of the practice is in the Old Testament, when Abraham circumcised Isaac, its origins are lost in antiquity, probably going back to before the use of metal tools. Practiced by Moslems and Jews throughout most of his*tory as a sign of their covenant with God, circumcision became widespread in the United States in the late nineteenth century when it was theorized that the removal of the foreskin would make the penis less sensitive (it doesn't), thus making masturba*tion a less tempting pursuit (it didn't). In the years that followed, many other medical justifications for routine circumcision have been proposed—among others that it might prevent or cure epilepsy, syphilis, asthma, lunacy, and tuberculosis—none of which it apparently does.
Circumcision does reduce the risk of infection of the penis, but careful attention to cleaning under the foreskin once it is retractable will do as well. It also elimi*nates the risk of phimosis, a condition in which the foreskin remains tight as the child grows and can't be retracted as it normally can in older boys. Phimosis can be extremely painful and sometimes inter*feres with erection. It is estimated that between 5 and 10% of uncircumcised males have to undergo the discomfort of circumcision some time after infancy be*cause of infection, phimosis, or other problems.
Still, until recently, most of the medical community took the position that there were no "absolute medical indications" that warranted exposing an infant to the surgery, minor though it is. But in 1989, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) task force, after evaluating all the data available, determined that there are
page 18
medical benefits and advantages to the procedure. The decision was based primar*ily on new studies that show that compared to circumcised infants, baby boys who are uncircumcised appear to have a 10 times greater risk of urinary tract infection, which can be severe enough to require hospitalization. They found the studies showing a link to penile cancer (possibly because of a higher rate of infection with human papillomavirus) and sexually trans*mitted diseases, including AIDS, to be less conclusive.
The AAP now recommends that par*ents make their decisions about circum*cision in conjunction with their baby's doctor and based upon a full consideration of medical benefits and risks as well as on esthetic, social, cultural, and religious factors.
Presently more than half of all boys in the U.S. are circumcised, down from more than 80% in the early 1980s. The most common reasons parents give for opting for circumcision, in addition to just "feeling it should be done," include:
■ Religious observance. The religious laws of both Moslems and Jews, rooted in the Bible, require circumcision of the newborn.
■ Cleanliness. Since it's easier to keep a circumcised penis clean, cleanliness is next to godliness as a reason for circumcision in the U.S.
■ The locker-room syndrome. Parents who don't want their sons to feel different from their friends or from their father or brothers often choose circumcision.
■ Appearance. Some feel removal of the foreskin will make their son look better.
■ Health. The hope of reducing the risk of infection, cancer, or other future problems (including possible later circumcision) prompts many to elect to do the surgery immediately.
The reasons why more parents are deciding against circumcision include:
■ The lack of medical necessity. Many
question the sense in removing a part of an infant's body without good cause.
■ Fear of bleeding and infection. Though complications, particularly when the pro*cedure is carried out by an experienced physician or a ritual circumciser with medi*cal training, are very rare, many parents are nevertheless apprehensive about the possibility.
■ Concern about pain. There is believed to be some pain connected with circumcision, though it is probably of short duration. (For this reason, an occasional doctor will use a local anesthetic, though most are not expe*rienced in the technique and do not.)
■ The wish for the child to be like his uncircumcised father. Another version of the like-father/like-son complex.
■ A belief in children's rights. Some par*ents wish to leave the decision to the child at a later date.
■ To allow optimal sexual enjoyment. There are those who still believe an uncir*cumcised penis is more sensitive, though there's no scientific support for this position.
■ Less risk of diaper irritation. It's been suggested that the intact foreskin may pro*tect against diaper rash on the penis.
The risks of circumcision are minimal, but complications can occur. To reduce the risk, be sure the person who is performing the procedure is experienced and, if he's a ritual circumciser, that he is well trained and comes highly recommended. Also be sure that the surgery is not done in the delivery room, but rather when your baby is stabilized, usually after at least 12 to 24 hours. And do not permit cauterisation with a metal clamp, which could cause se*rious burns. C
If you remain undecided about circum*cision as delivery day approaches, read about circumcision care in Chapter Four, and discuss the issue with the doctor you have chosen for your baby—and possibly with friends who have gone either route.
page 85
Usually by the end of the second year for 9 out of 10 uncircumcised boys, but sometimes not until five, ten, or more years after birth, foreskin and glans become fully separated. At this point the foreskin can be pushed back, or retracted, away from the glans.
PENIS CARE
The penis is comprised of the cylindrical shaft (most of its length) with a rounded end called the glans. The shaft and the glans are separated by a groove called the sulcus. At the tip of the glans is an opening, the meatus, through which semen and urine flow, though not at the same time. The entire penis—shaft and glans—is covered by a continuous layer of skin, called the foreskin, or prepuce. The foreskin itself is made up of two layers: the outer skin, and a lining similar to a mucous membrane.
At birth, the foreskin is firmly attached to the glans. Over time, foreskin and glans begin to separate, as cells are shed from the surface of each layer. The discarded cells, which are replaced throughout life, ac*cumulate as whitish, cheesy "pearls" that gradually work their way out via the tip of the foreskin.
http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/7684/clipboard01qa.jpg
The uncircumcised penis (left) requires meticu*lous hygiene; the circumcised penis, from which the foreskin has been removed, requires no special care.
Care of the uncircumcised penis.
Contrary to what was once believed, no special care is needed for the uncircum*cised penis in infancy—soap and water, applied externally, just as the rest of the body is washed, will keep it clean. It is not only unnecessary to try to forcibly retract the foreskin, or clean under it with cotton swabs, irrigation, or antiseptics—it can ac*tually be harmful. Once the foreskin has clearly separated, you can retract it occa*sionally and clean under it. By the age of puberty most foreskins will be retractable, and at that time a boy can learn to retract his and clean under it himself.
Care of the circumcised penis. The
only care the circumcised penis will ever need, once the incision is healed, is ordi*nary washing with soap and water. For care during the recovery period, see page 135.
page 135
CIRCUMCISION CARE
'My son was circumcised yesterday and there seems to be oozing around the area today. Is this normal?"
A body can't lose a part—even a small and largely unnecessary flap of skin such as the foreskin of the penis—without reacting a the loss. In this case there is usually soreness, sometimes a little bleeding, and oozing at the site of the surgery after cir*cumcision has been performed—a sign the body's healing fluids are rushing to the area.
Using double diapers for the first day will help to cushion the penis and also so keep the baby's thighs from pressing against it; this isn't usually necessary later. usually the penis will be wrapped in gauze by the doctor or mohel (a ritual circumcisorof the Jewish faith). You'll be asked to put a fresh gauze pad, dabbed with petroleum jelly or other ointment, on the penis with each diaper change and to avoid getting the penis wet in a bath (you probably won't be dunking your baby yet anyway, because the umbilical cord is not likely to have fallen off at this point) until healing is complete.
excerpt from book was made in 1989
What to expect the first year
By Arlene Eisenberg, FJeidi E, Murkoff, and Sanded E. Hathaway, B.S.N. Authors of What to Expect When You 're Expecting.
With a Foreword by Henry Harris, JVLD., FA.A.P., Albert Einstein Medical Center, New York City.
page 17
CIRCUMCISION
"I thought that circumcision was routine nowadays, but the pediatrician I'll be using said that it's not really necessary."
Circumcision is probably the oldest medi*cal procedure still performed. Though the most widely known historical record of the practice is in the Old Testament, when Abraham circumcised Isaac, its origins are lost in antiquity, probably going back to before the use of metal tools. Practiced by Moslems and Jews throughout most of his*tory as a sign of their covenant with God, circumcision became widespread in the United States in the late nineteenth century when it was theorized that the removal of the foreskin would make the penis less sensitive (it doesn't), thus making masturba*tion a less tempting pursuit (it didn't). In the years that followed, many other medical justifications for routine circumcision have been proposed—among others that it might prevent or cure epilepsy, syphilis, asthma, lunacy, and tuberculosis—none of which it apparently does.
Circumcision does reduce the risk of infection of the penis, but careful attention to cleaning under the foreskin once it is retractable will do as well. It also elimi*nates the risk of phimosis, a condition in which the foreskin remains tight as the child grows and can't be retracted as it normally can in older boys. Phimosis can be extremely painful and sometimes inter*feres with erection. It is estimated that between 5 and 10% of uncircumcised males have to undergo the discomfort of circumcision some time after infancy be*cause of infection, phimosis, or other problems.
Still, until recently, most of the medical community took the position that there were no "absolute medical indications" that warranted exposing an infant to the surgery, minor though it is. But in 1989, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) task force, after evaluating all the data available, determined that there are
page 18
medical benefits and advantages to the procedure. The decision was based primar*ily on new studies that show that compared to circumcised infants, baby boys who are uncircumcised appear to have a 10 times greater risk of urinary tract infection, which can be severe enough to require hospitalization. They found the studies showing a link to penile cancer (possibly because of a higher rate of infection with human papillomavirus) and sexually trans*mitted diseases, including AIDS, to be less conclusive.
The AAP now recommends that par*ents make their decisions about circum*cision in conjunction with their baby's doctor and based upon a full consideration of medical benefits and risks as well as on esthetic, social, cultural, and religious factors.
Presently more than half of all boys in the U.S. are circumcised, down from more than 80% in the early 1980s. The most common reasons parents give for opting for circumcision, in addition to just "feeling it should be done," include:
■ Religious observance. The religious laws of both Moslems and Jews, rooted in the Bible, require circumcision of the newborn.
■ Cleanliness. Since it's easier to keep a circumcised penis clean, cleanliness is next to godliness as a reason for circumcision in the U.S.
■ The locker-room syndrome. Parents who don't want their sons to feel different from their friends or from their father or brothers often choose circumcision.
■ Appearance. Some feel removal of the foreskin will make their son look better.
■ Health. The hope of reducing the risk of infection, cancer, or other future problems (including possible later circumcision) prompts many to elect to do the surgery immediately.
The reasons why more parents are deciding against circumcision include:
■ The lack of medical necessity. Many
question the sense in removing a part of an infant's body without good cause.
■ Fear of bleeding and infection. Though complications, particularly when the pro*cedure is carried out by an experienced physician or a ritual circumciser with medi*cal training, are very rare, many parents are nevertheless apprehensive about the possibility.
■ Concern about pain. There is believed to be some pain connected with circumcision, though it is probably of short duration. (For this reason, an occasional doctor will use a local anesthetic, though most are not expe*rienced in the technique and do not.)
■ The wish for the child to be like his uncircumcised father. Another version of the like-father/like-son complex.
■ A belief in children's rights. Some par*ents wish to leave the decision to the child at a later date.
■ To allow optimal sexual enjoyment. There are those who still believe an uncir*cumcised penis is more sensitive, though there's no scientific support for this position.
■ Less risk of diaper irritation. It's been suggested that the intact foreskin may pro*tect against diaper rash on the penis.
The risks of circumcision are minimal, but complications can occur. To reduce the risk, be sure the person who is performing the procedure is experienced and, if he's a ritual circumciser, that he is well trained and comes highly recommended. Also be sure that the surgery is not done in the delivery room, but rather when your baby is stabilized, usually after at least 12 to 24 hours. And do not permit cauterisation with a metal clamp, which could cause se*rious burns. C
If you remain undecided about circum*cision as delivery day approaches, read about circumcision care in Chapter Four, and discuss the issue with the doctor you have chosen for your baby—and possibly with friends who have gone either route.
page 85
Usually by the end of the second year for 9 out of 10 uncircumcised boys, but sometimes not until five, ten, or more years after birth, foreskin and glans become fully separated. At this point the foreskin can be pushed back, or retracted, away from the glans.
PENIS CARE
The penis is comprised of the cylindrical shaft (most of its length) with a rounded end called the glans. The shaft and the glans are separated by a groove called the sulcus. At the tip of the glans is an opening, the meatus, through which semen and urine flow, though not at the same time. The entire penis—shaft and glans—is covered by a continuous layer of skin, called the foreskin, or prepuce. The foreskin itself is made up of two layers: the outer skin, and a lining similar to a mucous membrane.
At birth, the foreskin is firmly attached to the glans. Over time, foreskin and glans begin to separate, as cells are shed from the surface of each layer. The discarded cells, which are replaced throughout life, ac*cumulate as whitish, cheesy "pearls" that gradually work their way out via the tip of the foreskin.
http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/7684/clipboard01qa.jpg
The uncircumcised penis (left) requires meticu*lous hygiene; the circumcised penis, from which the foreskin has been removed, requires no special care.
Care of the uncircumcised penis.
Contrary to what was once believed, no special care is needed for the uncircum*cised penis in infancy—soap and water, applied externally, just as the rest of the body is washed, will keep it clean. It is not only unnecessary to try to forcibly retract the foreskin, or clean under it with cotton swabs, irrigation, or antiseptics—it can ac*tually be harmful. Once the foreskin has clearly separated, you can retract it occa*sionally and clean under it. By the age of puberty most foreskins will be retractable, and at that time a boy can learn to retract his and clean under it himself.
Care of the circumcised penis. The
only care the circumcised penis will ever need, once the incision is healed, is ordi*nary washing with soap and water. For care during the recovery period, see page 135.
page 135
CIRCUMCISION CARE
'My son was circumcised yesterday and there seems to be oozing around the area today. Is this normal?"
A body can't lose a part—even a small and largely unnecessary flap of skin such as the foreskin of the penis—without reacting a the loss. In this case there is usually soreness, sometimes a little bleeding, and oozing at the site of the surgery after cir*cumcision has been performed—a sign the body's healing fluids are rushing to the area.
Using double diapers for the first day will help to cushion the penis and also so keep the baby's thighs from pressing against it; this isn't usually necessary later. usually the penis will be wrapped in gauze by the doctor or mohel (a ritual circumcisorof the Jewish faith). You'll be asked to put a fresh gauze pad, dabbed with petroleum jelly or other ointment, on the penis with each diaper change and to avoid getting the penis wet in a bath (you probably won't be dunking your baby yet anyway, because the umbilical cord is not likely to have fallen off at this point) until healing is complete.