Attention: Restrictions on use of AUA, AUAER, and UCF content in third party applications, including artificial intelligence technologies, such as large language models and generative AI.
You are prohibited from using or uploading content you accessed through this website into external applications, bots, software, or websites, including those using artificial intelligence technologies and infrastructure, including deep learning, machine learning and large language models and generative AI.

Circumcision

The American Urological Association, Inc.® (AUA) believes that neonatal circumcision has both potential medical benefits and risks. Neonatal circumcision is generally a safe procedure when performed sterilely by an experienced, trained professional taking precautions to avert injury.1 There are early risks to circumcision, which may include, but are not limited to, bleeding, infection, and penile injury, as well as complications recognized later such as buried penis, meatal stenosis, skin bridges, chordee and poor cosmetic appearance.2-6 Some of these complications may require surgical correction. Nevertheless, when performed on healthy newborn infants as an elective procedure by a medical provider sterilely, the incidence of serious adverse events is extremely low. Complication rates are reported around 2% for neonates and infants, with higher incidence seen in older children.7

Properly performed neonatal circumcision prevents phimosis, paraphimosis and balanoposthitis, and is associated with a markedly decreased incidence of cancer of the penis among U.S. males. In addition, there is a connection between the foreskin and urinary tract infections (UTI) in the neonate. For the first 3 to 6 months of life, the incidence of UTI is at least 10 times higher in uncircumcised versus circumcised males, while lifetime absolute risk is over 20% higher in uncircumcised males.8 Evidence associating neonatal circumcision with reduced incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) is conflicting. While there is no known effect on the rates of syphilis, chlamydia, or gonorrhea, studies show circumcised heterosexual males in areas with a high endemic Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) population experience up to a 60% reduction in HIV; lower prevalence of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) transmission is also noted.1 While the results of studies in other cultures may not necessarily be extrapolated to men in the United States at risk for STIs, the AUA recommends that circumcision should be presented as an option for health benefits. Circumcision should not be offered as the only strategy for STI risk reduction; other methods, including safe sexual practices, should be emphasized.

Circumcision may be required in a smaller number of uncircumcised boys when phimosis, paraphimosis or recurrent balanoposthitis occur and may be requested for ethnic and cultural reasons during or after the newborn period. Circumcision in these children after the neonatal period usually requires general anesthesia.

The risks of neonatal circumcision are encountered early, whereas the benefits are often prospective. When circumcision is being discussed with parents and informed consent obtained, medical benefits and risks in addition to ethnic, cultural, religious, and individual preferences should be considered.

References

  1. Warees, W. M., Anand, S., Leslie, S. W., Rodriguez, A. M.: Circumcision. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL), 2026
  2. American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on, C.: Male circumcision. Pediatrics, 130: e756, 2012
  3. Brook, I.: Infectious Complications of Circumcision and Their Prevention. Eur Urol Focus, 2: 453, 2016
  4. Friedman, B., Khoury, J., Petersiel, N. et al.: Pros and cons of circumcision: an evidence-based overview. Clin Microbiol Infect, 22: 768, 2016
  5. Prabhakaran, S., Ljuhar, D., Coleman, R., Nataraja, R. M.: Circumcision in the paediatric patient: A review of indications, technique and complications. J Paediatr Child Health, 54: 1299, 2018
  6. Sorokan, S. T., Finlay, J. C., Jefferies, A. L. et al.: Newborn male circumcision. Paediatr Child Health, 20: 311, 2015
  7. Weiss, H. A., Larke, N., Halperin, D., Schenker, I.: Complications of circumcision in male neonates, infants and children: a systematic review. BMC Urol, 10: 2, 2010
  8. Morris, B. J., Wiswell, T. E.: Circumcision and lifetime risk of urinary tract infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Urol, 189: 2118, 2013

Board of Directors, May 1989
Board of Directors, October 1996 (Revised)
Board of Directors, February 1998 (Revised)
Board of Directors, February 2003 (Revised)
Board of Directors, May 2007 (Revised)
Board of Directors, May 2012 (Reaffirmed)
Board of Directors, May 2017 (Revised)
Board of Directors, October 2018 (Reaffirmed)
Board of Directors, September 2026 (Revised)

advertisement

advertisement