To Circumcise or not to Circumcise

We’re just done with two circumcision outreaches in two villages. Using local anesthesia, sterile instruments and adequate medicines, my team composed of three physicians, volunteer nurses and midwives were able to circumcise 104 boys ages ranging from 9 to 18 in the rural barangays (villages) of Madaymen , Kibungan and in Sagubo, Kapangan both in Benguet Province, the Philippines.


Obsessed with taking photographs to blog and post in the web, I hastily made a story out of those pictures and uploaded them in my Facebook account. The comments I received from my high school batch mates around the world was a real eye popper. In Dubai and Australia the procedure is done in an operating room (theatre) under general anesthesia. We - medical people in the Philippines raise an eyebrow unbelievingly. Really! General anesthesia! Hmmm.


Since recorded time, the procedure was tied to cultural and religious rituals. In Jewish or Islamic religions, circumcision is a matter of tradition, for preventive health and hygiene and done in elaborate settings.


In the Philippines, it is considered as a rite of passage. In villages, adolescent boys are circumcised usually during lent by anyone who is knowledgeable on the procedure. But years ago, circumcision is done by an herbolaryo (medicine man). His requisite is a thorough bath. The eager nervous lad is asked to chew some guava leaves. The herbolaryo places a thin block of wood under the prepuce and with one sure quick blow with a bolo slits the prepuce cleanly apart. Ouch!! Then the chewed guava leaves are applied to the wound.


Scientific studies suggest that circumcision can in some degree prevent HIV infection during penile vaginal sex. Other benefits are prevention of genito-urinary infections especially in infants, other sexually transmitted diseases and the rare penile cancer. It is medically indicated when the foreskin is too tight around the glans. However, practicing safe sex has more to do with prevention from HIV or other STDs than being circumcised.


Obviously, circumcision is performed for hygienic reasons. But studies show conflicting results if circumcision indeed is the only way to make the penis clean. Some say the penis can be cleaned thoroughly even without circumcision. Some advocates maintain that partners of circumcised men have a lesser incidence of cervical cancer. Does the uncircumcised penis harbor the papilloma virus responsible for cervical cancer? Even if this is so, there’s the cervical cancer vaccine now. So maybe, there wouldn’t be any need for boys to undergo this painful rite of passage. Most parents forgo the procedure because it is costly.


In some parts of the world particularly in the USA, circumcision is the most common surgical procedure in the newborn. The American Academy of pediatrics and American Academy of Family Physicians say the procedure isn’t necessary. But parents should be enlightened on the benefits and risks.


I’ve search the web on forums that discussed the issue to circumcise or not to circumcise. I found one with a lively discussion. Some parents think it is dismemberment, others believe that their boys should make the decision when they are of age. Still others say it is barbaric. And one commented that circumcision in an adult affects his libido.


Now if you’re a woman would you prefer a partner who is or isn’t circumcised?