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Circumcision: Infants
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Male circumcision has its medical proponents. About 60 percent of U.S. male infants undergo circumcision, but the practice is being increasingly challenged. Medical associations now render a more cautious appraisal of the medical benefits of male circumcision, and raise new questions about possible physiological, sexual, and psychological consequences.
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In September 1997, Hardy and Harlan advised Dr. Taylor that their other children were not circumcised because they felt that circumcision was barbaric and harmful to an infant. On September 26, 1997, when Mrs. Harlan was admitted to Tri-City Hospital in Dallas for delivery, she told the staff that there was to be no circumcision. To prevent an accidental circumcision, the attending nurse threw the circumcision consent form into a nearby trashcan.
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Suzanne Dixon, M.D., in her article "Behavioral effects of circumcision with and without anesthesia," (Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics 1984; 5:246), demonstrated that circumcision is a stressful event that predictably alters the infant's behavior both during and after the procedure. Following the circumcision, the boys usually have a prolonged period of sleep, and then are largely unavailable for bonding or social interaction for up to 24 hours afterward. The problem seems to be self-limited, and after 24 hours their behavior is indistinguishable from their uncircumcised counterparts.
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PAIN CONTROL — Studies in newborns have shown that signs of stress occur related to the circumcision procedure. These include crying, increased heart rate, and increased blood pressure. Although these responses may be related in part to the infant being restrained, it is reasonable to assume that they are ... an indication that the newborn is experiencing pain.
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With a clearer understanding of normal male genital anatomy, and the creation of the British National Health Service in 1948, infant circumcision in Great Britain quickly declined. Non-religious infant circumcision is now very rare. No exact figures are available, but from extrapolation of data from the Liverpool and Sefton health districts, it is estimated that 1.5% of boys would be circumcised by age 15, with <0.1% of those circumcisions done in infancy.
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Post-procedure care — After the circumcision is completed, a petroleum jelly (Vaseline®) gauze dressing is usually applied (show picture 3A-B). This gauze should be removed and replaced with every diaper change for 24 hours. The circumcision site should be cleaned with warm water and a cotton ball once or twice a day. The infant should urinate within 12 hours of the procedure.
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