Circumcision, the partial or total removal of foreskin from the penis, is performed for religious, social, and health reasons. Though the national rate of newborn circumcision has declined, more than half of male newborns in this country are circumcised, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The procedure has long been controversial, with some parents questioning its benefits and fearing complications. In 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics found the health benefits of newborn male circumcision outweigh the risks, but the AAP stopped short of recommending universal newborn circumcision. While the procedure is most commonly performed on newborns, circumcision is an option for adult men for a variety of reasons.
The following are four potential health benefits to circumcision.
1. Reduced Risk of Prostate Cancer. A recent large study published in BJU International found that circumcision had a protective effect against prostate cancer risk, especially among black men who are at high risk.
The study found that men who were circumcised when they were older than 35 years of age decreased their prostate cancer risk by 45 percent. For men circumcised within 1 year of birth, prostate cancer risk was decreased by 14 percent. This finding is important, especially for populations that are at high risk for prostate cancer.
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2. Lower Risk of Contracting HIV. Three studies found that circumcision had a protective effect against HIV. The studies conducted in Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda revealed that circumcision lowers a man’s risk of becoming infected with HIV as much as 60 percent.
3. Fewer Medical Conditions. A new study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that half of uncircumcised males will contract an adverse medical condition caused by their foreskin over their lifetime. The study said the benefits of circumcision outweighed the risks of the procedure 100 to 1.
4. Lower Risk of Infection. Several studies have found that uncircumcised boys are more likely to contract urinary tract infections than circumcised boys. According to a 2012 study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the risk of infection was about 88 percent lower in circumcised boys.
Last Updated: 5/29/2014