Changes

Male circumcision is an ''elective '' surgical [[amputation]] of the [[foreskin]] part of the [[penis]]. Legally, the patient or his surrogate (proxy) must grant [[Informed consent| ''informed'' consent]] before the surgery can be performed. A surrogate's powers are limited to granting consent for medically-indicated and necessary surgery.<ref name="myers2020">{{REFjournal |last=Myers |first= |init=A |author-link=Alex Myers |last2=Earp |first2= |init2=BD |author2-link=Brian D. Earp |etal=no |title=What is the best age to circumcise? A medical and ethical analysis |trans-title= |language= |journal= Bioethics |location= |date=2020 |volume=34 |issue=7 |pages=645-63 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Brian-Earp-2/publication/337720859_What_Is_the_Best_Age_to_Circumcise_A_Medical_and_Ethical_Analysis/links/5f815f61a6fdccfd7b555395/What-Is-the-Best-Age-to-Circumcise-A-Medical-and-Ethical-Analysis.pdf |quote=Based on a careful consideration of the relevant evidence, arguments and counterarguments, we conclude that medically unnecessary penile circumcision-like other medically unnecessary genital procedures, such as 'cosmetic' labiaplasty-should not be performed on individuals who are too young (or otherwise unable) to provide meaningful consent to the procedure. |pubmedID=32068898 |pubmedCID= |doi=10.1111/bioe.12714 |format=PDF |accessdate=2020-06-30}}</ref>

The surgeon most provide all material information to the patient before [[informed consent]] can be granted. There is a strong tendency for the surgeon to omit telling the patient anything about the nature and [http://www.intactaus.org/information/functionsoftheforeskin/ function functions of the foreskin], <ref name="masood2005">{{REFjournal |last=Masood |init=S |etal=yes |title=Penile sensitivity and sexual satisfaction after circumcision: are we informing men correctly? |journal=Urol Int |date=2005 |volume=75 |issue=1 |pages=62-6 |url=https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/85930 |pubmedID=16037710 |pubmedCID= |DOI=10.1159/000085930 |accessdate=2023-04-08}}</ref> which would be lost through [[amputation]] if consent should be granted. Urologic surgeons in the [[United States]] derive a substantial fee from the performance of a circumcision, so some may have a [[bias]] in favor of circumcision and [[Issues_with_American_urologists_and_the_practice_of_male_circumcision#Issues_with_care_of_adult_intact_males| may inappropriately recommend circumcision to patients]] when a conservative treatment would be satisfactory or even when no treatment is necessary. Patients should be wary and do their own research before granting consent for an <u>irreversible</u> circumcision.

}}</ref> and recurrent [[balanitis| balanoposthitis]], and gangrene.

Some adult males may seek non-therapeutic circumcision because of a conversion to [[Judaism]] or [[Islam]]. Others may simply want a circumcision because they like the physical appearance, or to fit into a society where most men are [[circumcised]], or for some personal whim.<ref name="holman1999">{{REFjournal

Beaugé (1997) reported that boys, who masturbate by pulling their [[foreskin ]] away from the body, will not stretch the tight part of the foreskin so non-retractile foreskin will persist. He advised changing the method of [[masturbation]] to the more conventional method of pulling the foreskin toward the body so that the narrow orifice gets stretched.<ref name="beauge1997">{{REFjournal

|author-link= |last2= |init2= |author2-link=Michel Beaugé

The traditional way of addressing this issue was to consult a urologist and get a circumcision, however we now understand that in the vast majority of cases, manual [[stretching ]] over a few months will widen the foreskin by [[tissue expansion]], make the foreskin retractable and eliminate the need for a destructive circumcision.

Specifically, the patient should be told about the risks of [[bleeding]], hematoma formation, [[infection]], inadvertent damage to the [[glans]], removal of too much or too little [[skin]], aesthetically unpleasing results , and a change of sensation during intercourse. The patient should also be informed that, during the postoperative period, [[erection]]s can cause pain and disruption of the suture line that may require replacement of the sutures. Full recovery following circumcision generally requires four to six weeks of abstinence from all genital stimulation and sexual activity.<ref name="holman1999" />

There is danger of [[infection]] until the circumcision wound heals closed.<ref name="wang2023" />===Lymphoedema===

The human [[foreskin]] has long been noted for its high level of erogenous sensation. Winklemann (1959) early identified the foreskin as a ''specific erogenous zone''.<ref name="winklemann1959">{{REFjournal |last=Winkelmann |init=RK |author-link= |title=The erogenous zones: their nerve supply and significance |journal=Mayo Clin Proc |date=WinkelmannRK 1959-01-21 |volume=34 |issue=3 |pages=39-47 |url=http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/winkelmann/ |quote= |pubmedID=13645790 |pubmedCID= |DOI= |accessdate=2021-06-04}}</ref> Falliers (1970) called attention to ''sensory pleasure'' induced by tactile stimulation of the foreskin, which is almost totally lost after its surgical removal.<ref>{{REFjournal

Masood et al. (2005) suggested "before circumcision, men should be warned of the long-term consequences (penile sensations and effect on erectile function) as well as be talked through the more traditional subjects (peri-operative complications)."<ref name="masood2005">{{REFjournal |last=Masood |first= |init=S |author-link= |last2=Patel |first2= |init2=HRH |author2-link= |last3=Himpson |first3= |init3=RC |author3-link= |author9-link= |etal=yes |title=Penile sensitivity and sexual satisfaction after circumcision: Are we informing men correctly? |trans-title= |language= |journal=Urol Int |location= |date=2005 |volume=75 |issue=1 |article= |page= |pages=62-5 |url=http://www.cirp.org/library/sex_function/masood1/ |pubmedID=16037710 |pubmedCID= |DOI=10.1159/000085930 |accessdate=2021-06-05}}</ref>

# The exposed [[glans penis]] will protect itself from friction by developing a layer of [[keratin ]] and become cracked and hardened. The [[keratinization]] of the [[glans penis ]] will reduce its sensitivity.# There are possible [[Psychological issues of male circumcision| emotional issues]] secondary to a partial loss of the [[penis ]] through circumcision.

Here are five videos in which [[regret men ]] who had an adult circumcision express their regret.

* [[The Recovery After recovery after an Adult Circumcisionadult circumcision]]* [[Regret men]]