How to Get Circumcised

Circumcision is the surgical removal of the outer layer of skin on the head of the penis. This procedure is usually performed for health and hygiene reasons as well as religious and ceremonial purposes. If you are interested in circumcision, read on about the benefits and risks and a plan for recovery.

Table of Contents

Understanding circumcision surgery

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Learn about circumcision. If you decide to get circumcised, your doctor will perform a quick, relatively simple procedure to permanently remove the foreskin of the penis. After the recovery period, the penis will heal normally but without the outer skin that can slide down as before.

In general, circumcision is usually performed on infants, but can also be performed on adults often for aesthetic or religious purposes.
Circumcision is also recommended when you have urinary tract problems such as urinary retention or recurring yeast infections in the penis, as it helps prevent infection.
Circumcision does not prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
Circumcision should only be performed by a licensed physician. Under no circumstances should self circumcision be performed, because even a small negligence can lead to danger.

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Learn about the surgical process. If you decide to get circumcised, you should talk to your doctor and make an appointment for a consultation. Basically, the trick includes the following steps:

The genitals will be washed and prepared for surgery. You will be numbed with a dorsal nerve blocker. ^{[1] X Research Source}
The doctor uses scissors to cut the skin above the head of the penis, a second incision will be made below, cutting away the skin around the tip of the penis.
The edges of the skin are pulled back and the blood vessels are ligated with sutures or electrocautery, which uses an electric current to burn the ends of the blood vessels.
Finally, the skin edges are sutured and the penis is tightly bandaged for the healing process. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Understand the benefits. Although there are many unproven medical benefits, the truth is that most circumcisions are performed for religious and cosmetic purposes. Circumcision is thought to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections, urinary tract infections, and penile cancer. Some circumcised adults for hygiene reasons consider an uncircumcised penis harder to keep clean and “less attractive” than a circumcised penis.

Circumcision reduces the risk of urinary tract infections by up to 90%.
Circumcision reduces the risk of foreskin, penile cancer, and prostate cancer, and reduces the risk of HIV infection by 60%.
Circumcision reduces the risk of HPV infection and cervical cancer in female partners.
Circumcision does not eliminate the possibility of sexually transmitted diseases. Remember to practice safe sex practices, and always wear a condom.
In rarer cases, circumcision is also performed to correct foreskin stenosis, acute balanitis, or strangulation of the foreskin due to narrowing of the foreskin. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Understand the risks. Basically, circumcision is the voluntary removal of part of the genitals, removing the most sensitive part of the outer skin of the penis. As with any non-emergency surgery, circumcision carries a risk of complications. Usually performed on infants, adult circumcision is often uncomfortable and inconvenient during recovery.

For adults, circumcision is a personal choice and is still controversial. Many circumcised men expressed satisfaction, while others complained. ^{[4] X Research Source} You should consider the pros and cons to make the right choice for you.

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Check out hospitals and medical facilities in your area. If you want private advice, seek the advice of your treating physician. Contact your hospital and talk to your urologist to hear more about the benefits and risks, and learn about the procedure and recovery.

For teenagers and adults, circumcision is usually done under anesthesia and takes 2 weeks to recover.
Some hospitals do not perform circumcision unless for medical reasons. If you decide to get circumcised, you’ll need to research several places where the procedure can be performed.

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Prepare for the trick. You need to make sure to give yourself some recovery time, which can be up to 2 weeks. If circumcision is for religious reasons, take advantage of the time before surgery to complete the associated rituals. Consult other members of the religious community for advice and guidance.

Recovery after circumcision surgery

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Keep the vaginal area clean and dry. Cover the wound with a waterproof material when showering for the first few days and keep it clean when going to the bathroom. Wounds need to be dry in order to heal.

Your doctor will have more specific instructions and apply topical medication, but in general you need to keep the surgical area as clean and dry as possible.
You may have a catheter in place for a few days after surgery to help keep the penis dry. The doctor will remove the catheter after the wound has healed.

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Wear loose cotton underwear. Change underwear during the day to keep the intimate area clean. You should also wear loose underwear to allow good air circulation. Avoid tight jeans, and consider wearing cotton shorts or other loose pants.

You can apply medical Vaseline to prevent the wound from sticking to clothing or gauze.

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Use medication as directed. Your doctor may prescribe pain relievers or other ointments. You need to use it regularly according to the instructions. You can also add petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to prevent scratches during the recovery period.

Circumcision for babies

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Consider the complications of circumcision. This procedure, usually done in the hospital within a few days of the baby’s birth, is completed with a quick and relatively painless recovery. Consider whether to let your child decide later on or get circumcised at the hospital.

Talk to your obstetrician and pediatrician. In general, the procedure will be done quickly, the recovery time is quick, and keeping the child’s hygiene is also relatively simple.

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Keep the wound clean. Avoid wiping with wet wipes or other cleaning solutions. Dry your baby with warm soapy water for the first few days.

Some pediatricians recommend covering your baby’s genitals, while others recommend leaving them open for healing. If you want to cover your baby’s genitals with gauze, you should first apply a little petroleum-based wax to avoid painful scratches. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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To arrange for Bris (Jewish circumcision), look for Mohel (Jewish circumcision). The Bris Ritual is usually not performed in a hospital but in a private location. To make arrangements for Bris, talk to your rabbi or other religious counselor.

Advice

There is another “bleedless” method of circumcision. An Israeli company called PrePex develops a plastic device that puts pressure on the foreskin to cut off the blood supply. Recovery will take about 6 weeks to 2 months.

Warning

Avoid sex or masturbation for several weeks after surgery.
In adults, an erection after surgery can be a problem. Don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor and follow their advice. You should also redirect your thoughts to other matters, especially early in the morning.
Tell your doctor about your allergy history before having your circumcision procedure.
Sometimes there is edema around the tip of the penis during the first 12 hours. If this is the case, you should tell your doctor. Your doctor can give you advice about exercise or medication.
Do not circumcise unless necessary.
Remember that if the baby is uncircumcised, wash only the exposed parts, do not pull the foreskin. If you decide not to circumcise your boy, you need to teach him to clean himself when he is about 10 years old.

Steps

Understanding circumcision surgery

Recovery after circumcision surgery

Circumcision for babies

Advice

Warning

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