Pediatric Circumcision

Circumcision is the removal of the foreskin, the skin that covers the glans (tip) of the penis. The procedure is typically performed on newborn boys, though is is possible to perform on older patients. Circumcision is common in the United States and many countries throughout the world, and is performed for religious, cultural and traditional reasons as well as medical and hygiene reasons. Medically, circumcision can help to keep the penis clean, decrease the risk of urinary tract and sexually transmitted infections, and alleviate a foreskin that is too tight to retract over the glans.

When circumcisions are performed on newborns, the procedure usually takes place within the first 10 days of life in the hospital nursery. A local anesthetic is injected or applied to the penis before the foreskin is removed. For older patients, the process is much the same, though general anesthesia and sutures may be required.