15,327
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m
→Hygiene reasons
''Hygiene'' refers to health and only secondarily to cleanliness.
One should note that the human [[foreskin ]] is endowed by nature with [[Foreskin#Immunological_functions| immunological functions]] that serve to protect the human body from disease.<ref name="fleiss-hodges-vanhowe1998"/> The [[glans penis ]] receives blood through the frenular artery.<ref>{{REFjournal
|last=Persad
|init=R
A common reason stated for circumcision is the assumption of hygienic benefits. This argument has to be viewed in the context of the environment the person in question grows up in. It is commonly known that bad hygienic circumstances, especially insufficient access to clean drinking water, pose a serious problem. The situation in disaster areas or refugee camps in the so-called third world keep reminding us of that.
In western industrial nations, however, this problem does not exist, in view of the availability of clean water for daily personal hygiene. If the cleaning of the genitals is performed on a daily basis - — and that may be assumed - — no pathogens can accumulate under the [[foreskin]]. Cleaning of the [[Glans penis|glans]] and the area [[preputial sac]] underneath the [[foreskin]] is easy - — they are simply [[Preputial_sac#Washing| washed with warm water along with the rest of the body]], just like the areas between the toes.
In small boys, where the [[foreskin]] cannot be retracted yet, cleaning is not necessary, since the [[Synechia| membrane]] that fuses the [[foreskin]] to the [[Glans penis|glans]] prevents the accumulation of micro-organisms. The so-called "[[Ballooning of the foreskin| ballooning]]", where the [[foreskin]] inflates during urination, is not a serious problemconcern.
The opening of the [[foreskin]] in small boys is often quite narrow and serves as a one-way valve, allowing the [[urine]] to flow out, but preventing entry of microbes, for example from a dirty diaper. As long as the child is able to pass water, everything works as nature intended.
But even in areas where there are poorer hygienic conditions and an insufficient access to medical care, the benefits of easier cleaning of a [[circumcised ]] [[penis]] are to be viewed with a critical eye. Although even longer periods without personal hygiene will not result in an accumulation of germs under the [[foreskin]], circumcision itself is not without risk of complications. If the operation is carried out without proper sterility, there is a high risk of an [[infection]] of the wound. This also applies to the treatment of common complications like post-operative [[bleeding]].
The benefit of easier cleaning must be balanced against the risk of promoting serious infections - — among others [[HIV]] - — during the operation. In parts of Africa, several dozen of one tribe's boys die each year as a result of their circumcision.
== Circumcision methods ==