Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin from the penis.

Deciding whether to have your baby son circumcised is a personal choice for parents. It’s a decision which is often based on religious or traditional factors. If other members of your family have been circumcised, you may decide in favour of circumcision, a procedure which is normally performed within a few weeks of the baby’s birth.

In Australia today, just under 20% of parents choose to have their baby boys circumcised.(1)

There are health benefits to newborn circumcision:

1. Reduction in the risk of urinary tract infection.
   
2. Reduction in the risk of HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections in later life.
   
3. Reduction in risk of cancer of the penis (a very uncommon cancer).
   
4. Elimination of the need for circumcision in later life (which is sometimes required for medical reasons).
   
5. Possible reduction in the risk of prostate cancer, a condition that affects 1 in 9 Australian men.(2,3)

Complications are very rare when circumcision is performed by a skilled medical professional. They can include bleeding and infection.(4)

Circumcision is performed using aseptic (sterile) technique in an operating theatre just like any major surgery.

Dr Hanna firsts injects local anaesthetic around the base of the penis. This is called a dorsal nerve block or ring block. Once it has taken effect, he releases the skin around the head of the penis and uses a small plastic device called a ‘Plastibell’ which is sutured in place underneath the baby’s foreskin. The foreskin is then neatly cut over the edge of the Plastibell.

The Plastibell and the suturing will fall off naturally, usually after a few days when the area has healed.

Dr Hanna provides his mobile phone number for all parents after the circumcision of their son. He is happy to be contacted if the parents are at all concerned about anything in relation to the circumcision.

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