Difference between revisions of "Circumcision myths and facts"

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There are many myths surrounding the topic of [[circumcision]] that try to justify the [[foreskin]] [[amputation]], which is medically unnecessary. They are all unproven and scientifically refuted. In addition, they are legally on extremely thin ice, since [[human rights]] also apply to babies and children.
 +
 
 +
This article which was inspired by [[intactivist]] [[Shalea Self]], tries to list them in an alphabetical order to help people find arguments against forced circumcision on minors (aka foreskin amputation aka genital mutilation) easier.
  
 
== Cancer ==
 
== Cancer ==
−
Circumcision does not reduce the risk.
+
'''Myth:''' [[Penile cancer]] can be protected by [[circumcision]] in childhood.
−
* https://www.cancer.org/cancer/penile-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/prevention.html
+
 
 +
'''Myth origin:''' [[Abraham L. Wolbarst]] (1926)
  
 +
'''Fact:''' Circumcision does not reduce the risk.
 +
* {{REFweb
 +
|url=https://www.cancer.org/cancer/penile-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/prevention.html
 +
|title=Can Penile Cancer Be Prevented?
 +
|website=cancer.org
 +
|publisher=American Cancer Society
 +
|date=2017-10-19
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
  
 
== Trauma ==
 
== Trauma ==
 
Wondered what your baby went through?
 
Wondered what your baby went through?
−
* https://www.yourwholebaby.org/circumcision-videos
+
* {{REFweb
 +
|url=https://www.yourwholebaby.org/circumcision-videos
 +
|title=Types of Circumcision - Graphic Content Warning
 +
|publisher=[[Your Whole Baby]]
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
  
 +
== HIV ==
 +
'''Myth:''' [[HIV]] can be prevented by the "vaccine" [[circumcision]].
  
−
== HIV ==
+
'''Myth origin:''' [[Robert C. Bailey]] (2007)
−
Circumcision does not reduce the risk.
 
−
* https://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/for-professionals/alleged-medical-benefits/hivaids/
 
  
−
HIV resources:
+
'''Fact:''' Circumcision does not reduce the risk of [[HIV]]. Two population-based studies from 2021 have finally fully debunked this myth.  
−
* http://www.drmomma.org/2014/01/hiv-aids-circumcision-resources.html
+
{{Population-based studies}}
  
 +
[[HIV]] resources:
 +
* {{REFweb
 +
|url=http://www.drmomma.org/2014/01/hiv-aids-circumcision-resources.html
 +
|title=HIV, AIDS & Circumcision Resources
 +
|publisher=[[Dr. Momma - peaceful parenting]]
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
  
−
== Pain ==
+
== [[Pain]] ==
 
Long term consequences of high levels of pain in infants
 
Long term consequences of high levels of pain in infants
−
* https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1595204/
+
* {{REFjournal
 +
|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1595204/
 +
|title=Are There Long-Term Consequences of Pain in Newborn or Very Young Infants?
 +
|last=Page
 +
|first=Gayle Giboney
 +
|init=GG
 +
|journal=J Perinat Educ
 +
|date=2004-08
 +
|volume=13
 +
|issue=3
 +
|pages=10–17
 +
|DOI=10.1624/105812404X1725
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
  
 
Pain of circumcision and inadequate pain relief:
 
Pain of circumcision and inadequate pain relief:
−
* https://www.yourwholebaby.org/pain-management-research
+
* {{REFweb
−
* https://www.cochrane.org/CD004217/NEONATAL_pain-relief-for-neonatal-circumcision
+
|url=https://www.yourwholebaby.org/pain-management-research
−
* http://www.cirp.org/library/pain/
+
|title=Pain Management Research
 +
|publisher=[[Your Whole Baby]]
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
 +
* {{REFjournal
 +
|url=https://www.cochrane.org/CD004217/NEONATAL_pain-relief-for-neonatal-circumcision
 +
|title=Pain relief for neonatal circumcision
 +
|last=Brady-Fryer
 +
|init=B
 +
|last2=Wiebe
 +
|init2=N
 +
|last3=Lander
 +
|init3=JA
 +
|journal=Cochrane Library
 +
|date=2004-10-18
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
 +
* {{REFweb
 +
|url=http://www.cirp.org/library/pain/
 +
|title=Pain of circumcision and pain control
 +
|publisher=[[CIRP]]
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
  
 
96% of infants circumcised are done so without pain relief. The pain relief given (remaining 4%) is proven only mild relief with infant heart rate,  blood pressure, and cortisol levels still rising greatly during the procedure:
 
96% of infants circumcised are done so without pain relief. The pain relief given (remaining 4%) is proven only mild relief with infant heart rate,  blood pressure, and cortisol levels still rising greatly during the procedure:
−
* http://www.thewholenetwork.org/twn-news/infant-circumcision-with-anesthesia-does-it-really-help-the-pain
+
* {{REFweb
 +
|url=http://www.thewholenetwork.org/twn-news/infant-circumcision-with-anesthesia-does-it-really-help-the-pain
 +
|title=Infant Circumcision with Anesthesia: Does It Really Help the Pain?
 +
|date=2021-08-20
 +
|publisher=[[The Whole Network]]
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
  
 
Pain management/The effectiveness of anesthesia:
 
Pain management/The effectiveness of anesthesia:
−
* http://www.drmomma.org/2008/11/the-effectiveness-of-anesthesia-for.html
+
* {{REFweb
−
 
+
|url=http://www.drmomma.org/2008/11/the-effectiveness-of-anesthesia-for.html
 +
|title= The Effectiveness of Anesthesia for Circumcision Pain
 +
|last=Day
 +
|first=Danelle
 +
|date=2008
 +
|publisher=[[Dr. Momma - peaceful parenting]]
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
  
 
== Penile inflammation ==
 
== Penile inflammation ==
 
In young boys ...
 
In young boys ...
−
* https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/17475991/
+
* {{REFjournal
−
 
+
|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/17475991/
 +
|title=Neonatal circumcision and penile inflammation in young boys
 +
|last=Van Howe
 +
|first=Robert S.
 +
|init=RS
 +
|author-link=Robert S. Van Howe
 +
|journal=Clin Pediatr (Phila)
 +
|date=2007-05
 +
|volume=46
 +
|issue=4
 +
|pages=329-33
 +
|pubmedID=17475991
 +
|DOI=10.1177/0009922806295708
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
  
 
== Psychological consequences ==
 
== Psychological consequences ==
 
of circumcision
 
of circumcision
−
* https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-psychological-impact-of-circumcision-Goldman/eea28835decfde7b18af936e42d7e257c66c9336?p2df
+
* {{REFjournal
 +
|url=https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-psychological-impact-of-circumcision-Goldman/eea28835decfde7b18af936e42d7e257c66c9336?p2df
 +
|title=The psychological impact of circumcision
 +
|last=Goldman
 +
|first=Ronald
 +
|init=R
 +
|author-link=Ronald Goldman
 +
|DOI=10.1046/j.1464-410x.1999.0830s1093.x
 +
|date=1999-01-01
 +
|journal=BJU Int
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
  
 
Permanent trauma on the boys brain:
 
Permanent trauma on the boys brain:
−
* https://iaim.net/extreme-trauma-from-male-circumcision-causes-damage-to-areas-of-brain/
+
* {{REFweb
−
 
+
|url=https://iaim.net/extreme-trauma-from-male-circumcision-causes-damage-to-areas-of-brain/
 +
|title=Extreme Trauma from Male Circumcision Causes Damage to Areas of Brain
 +
|website=IAIM.net
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
  
 
== Risks ==
 
== Risks ==
 
of circumcision:
 
of circumcision:
−
* https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30502236/?i=24&from=infant%20circumcision
+
* {{REFjournal
−
 
+
|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30502236/?i=24&from=infant%20circumcision
 +
|title=A Longitudinal Population Analysis of Cumulative Risks of Circumcision
 +
|journal=J Surg Res
 +
|date=2019-01
 +
|volume=233
 +
|pages=111-117
 +
|DOI=10.1016/j.jss.2018.07.069
 +
|last=Hung
 +
|init=YC
 +
|last2=Chang
 +
|init2=DC
 +
|last3=Westfal
 +
|init3=ML
 +
|last4=Marks
 +
|init4=IH
 +
|last5=Masiakos
 +
|init5=PT
 +
|last6=Kelleher
 +
|init6=CM
 +
|pubmedID=30502236
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
  
 
== Sensitivity ==
 
== Sensitivity ==
 
Decrease in penile sensitivity long term.
 
Decrease in penile sensitivity long term.
−
* https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/23374102/
+
* {{REFjournal
−
 
+
|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/23374102/
 +
|title=Male circumcision decreases penile sensitivity as measured in a large cohort
 +
|journal=BJU Int
 +
|date=2013-05
 +
|volume=111
 +
|issue=5
 +
|pages=820-7
 +
|DOI=10.1111/j.1464-410X.2012.11761.x
 +
|last=Bronselaer
 +
|init=GA
 +
|last2=Schober
 +
|init2=JM
 +
|last3=Meyer-Bahlburg
 +
|init3=HFL
 +
|last4=T'Sjoen
 +
|init4=G
 +
|last5=Vlietinck
 +
|init5=R
 +
|last6=Hoebeke
 +
|init6=PB
 +
|pubmedID=23374102
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
  
 
== SIDS ==
 
== SIDS ==
 
Increased risk due to circumcision.
 
Increased risk due to circumcision.
−
* https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6412606/
+
* {{REFjournal
−
* https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5083856/
+
|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6412606/
−
 
+
|title=Neonatal circumcision and prematurity are associated with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
 +
|journal=J Clin Transl Res
 +
|date=2019-01-10
 +
|volume=4
 +
|issue=2
 +
|pages=136–151
 +
|pubmedCID=PMC6412606
 +
|pubmedID=30873502
 +
|last=Elhaik
 +
|first=Eran
 +
|init=E
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
 +
* {{REFjournal
 +
|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5083856/
 +
|title=A “Wear and Tear” Hypothesis to Explain Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
 +
|journal=Front Neurol
 +
|date=2016
 +
|volume=7
 +
|issue=
 +
|page=180
 +
|pubmedCID=PMC5083856
 +
|pubmedID=27840622
 +
|last=Elhaik
 +
|first=Eran
 +
|init=E
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
  
 
== STI ==
 
== STI ==
 
Circumcision does not reduce the risk.
 
Circumcision does not reduce the risk.
−
* https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3081655/
+
* {{REFjournal
 +
|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3081655/
 +
|title=Adult Male Circumcision Does Not Reduce Risk of Incident Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Trichomonas vaginalis: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial in Kenya
 +
|journal=J Infect Dis
 +
|date=2009-08-01
 +
|volume=200
 +
|issue=3
 +
|pages=370–378
 +
|DOI=10.1086/600074
 +
|pubmedCID=PMC3081655
 +
|pubmedID=19545209
 +
|last=Metha
 +
|first=Supriya D.
 +
|init=SD
 +
|last2=Moses
 +
|first2=Stephen
 +
|init2=S
 +
|author2-link=Stephen Moses
 +
|last3=Agot
 +
|first3=Kawango
 +
|init3=K
 +
|last4=Parker
 +
|first4=Corette
 +
|init4=C
 +
|last5=Ndinya-Achola
 +
|first5=Jeckoniah O.
 +
|init5=JO
 +
|last6=Maclean
 +
|first6=Ian
 +
|init6=I
 +
|last7=Bailey
 +
|first7=Robert C.
 +
|init7=RC
 +
|author7-link=Robert C. Bailey
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
== UTI ==
 +
'''Myth:''' [[UTI]] ([[urinary tract infection]]s) can be prevented by [[circumcision]] in childhood.
  
 +
'''Myth origin:''' [[Thomas E. Wiswell]] (1985)
  
−
== UTI ==
+
'''Fact:''' Circumcision does not prevent UTI.
−
and Circumcision
+
* {{REFweb
−
* https://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/.../urinary.../
+
|url=https://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/for-professionals/alleged-medical-benefits/urinary-tract-infections/
 +
|title=Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
 +
|publisher=[[Doctors Opposing Circumcision (D.O.C.)]]
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
  
−
UTI are a complication of circumcision:
+
In fact, [[UTI]] are a complication of circumcision:
−
* http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/UTI/
+
* {{REFweb
 +
|url=http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/UTI/
 +
|title=Circumcision and urinary tract infection
 +
|publisher=[[CIRP]]
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
  
−
UTI resources:
+
Here you find collected UTI resources:
−
* http://www.savingsons.org/2014/11/uti-resource-page.html
+
* {{REFweb
 +
|url=http://www.savingsons.org/2014/11/uti-resource-page.html
 +
|title=UTI Resource Page
 +
|publisher=[[Saving Our Sons (SoS)]]
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
  
 
Research by subtopic:
 
Research by subtopic:
−
* IntactHealth.org/research
+
* {{REFweb
−
 
+
|url=https://www.intactnetwork.org/research
 +
|title=Reseearch: Topical Resources of Study
 +
|publisher=[[The Intact Network]]
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
  
 
== Other aspects ==
 
== Other aspects ==
 
=== Nursing home debate ===
 
=== Nursing home debate ===
−
* https://www.littleimages.org/blog/nursing-home-debate/
+
* {{REFweb
 +
|url=https://www.littleimages.org/blog/nursing-home-debate/
 +
|title=The Nursing Home Argument
 +
|last=Joe
 +
|date=2016-06-06
 +
|publisher=[[Little Images]]
 +
|accessdate=2021-11-12
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{SEEALSO}}
 +
* [[Alleged reasons for circumcision]]
 +
* [[Arguments pro circumcision]]
 +
* [[Circumcision#Non-medical_indications_for_circumcision|Circumpendium: Non-medical indications for circumcision]]
 +
* [[Trauma]]
 +
 
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Myth]]
 +
[[Category:Parental information]]

Latest revision as of 01:27, 17 November 2022

Work in progress: The following information does not claim to be complete. More content will be added gradually.

There are many myths surrounding the topic of circumcision that try to justify the foreskin amputation, which is medically unnecessary. They are all unproven and scientifically refuted. In addition, they are legally on extremely thin ice, since human rights also apply to babies and children.

This article which was inspired by intactivist Shalea Self, tries to list them in an alphabetical order to help people find arguments against forced circumcision on minors (aka foreskin amputation aka genital mutilation) easier.

Cancer

Myth: Penile cancer can be protected by circumcision in childhood.

Myth origin: Abraham L. Wolbarst (1926)

Fact: Circumcision does not reduce the risk.

Trauma

Wondered what your baby went through?

HIV

Myth: HIV can be prevented by the "vaccine" circumcision.

Myth origin: Robert C. Bailey (2007)

Fact: Circumcision does not reduce the risk of HIV. Two population-based studies from 2021 have finally fully debunked this myth. September 2021 saw the publication of two huge population studies on the relationship of circumcision and HIV infection:

  1. Mayan et al. (2021) carried out a massive empirical study of the male population of the province of Ontario, Canada (569,950 males), of whom 203,588 (35.7%) were circumcised between 1991 and 2017. The study concluded that circumcision status is not related to risk of HIV infection.[1]
  2. Morten Frisch & Jacob Simonsen (2021) carried out a large scale empirical population study in Denmark of 855,654 males regarding the alleged value of male circumcision in preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in men. They found that circumcised men have a higher rate of STI and HIV infection overall than intact men.[2]

No association between lack of circumcision and risk of HIV infection was found by either study. There now is credible evidence that the massive, expensive African circumcision programs have not been effective in preventing HIV infection.

HIV resources:

Pain

Long term consequences of high levels of pain in infants

Pain of circumcision and inadequate pain relief:

96% of infants circumcised are done so without pain relief. The pain relief given (remaining 4%) is proven only mild relief with infant heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels still rising greatly during the procedure:

Pain management/The effectiveness of anesthesia:

Penile inflammation

In young boys ...

Psychological consequences

of circumcision

Permanent trauma on the boys brain:

Risks

of circumcision:

Sensitivity

Decrease in penile sensitivity long term.

SIDS

Increased risk due to circumcision.

STI

Circumcision does not reduce the risk.

UTI

Myth: UTI (urinary tract infections) can be prevented by circumcision in childhood.

Myth origin: Thomas E. Wiswell (1985)

Fact: Circumcision does not prevent UTI.

In fact, UTI are a complication of circumcision:

Here you find collected UTI resources:

Research by subtopic:

Other aspects

Nursing home debate

See also

  • ↑ REFjournal Mayan M, Hamilton RJ, Juurlink DN, Austin PC, Jarvi KA. Circumcision and Risk of HIV Among Males From Ontario, Canada. J Urol. 23 September 2021; PMID. DOI. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
    Quote: We found that circumcision was not independently associated with the risk of acquiring HIV among men from Ontario, Canada.
  • ↑ REFjournal Frisch M, Simonsen J. Non-therapeutic male circumcision in infancy or childhood and risk of human immunodeficiency virus and other sexually transmitted infections: national cohort study in Denmark. Eur J Epidemiol. 26 September 2021; 37: 251–9. PMID. DOI. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
    • Retrieved from "https://en.intactiwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Circumcision_myths_and_facts&oldid=31654"