Male Circumcision Controversy
CR 910641347
HED320, FALL 2011
Male Circumcision
As the controversy in male circumcision continues, potential health benefits are the deciding factors for infant male circumcision. The history of circumcision shows encouragement from places around the world, including opposing views from both sides, for undergoing this procedure. In recent history, the advancement in medical research has provided substantial benefits. The health benefits associated with circumcision provide prevention of serious, even life threating, diseases. The process of circumcision is briefly explained including supporting facts. The history and health benefits in male circumcision provide truthful and unbiased information allowing my firm decision to have a son circumcised.
Circumcision is the surgical removal of the prepuce of the foreskin, which is the skin that covers the tip of the penis. Circumcision is usually performed on the first or second day after birth and becomes a more complicated and riskier procedure in infants older than 2 months and in boys and men. “A recent nationwide survey of American hospitals revealed 55.9% of 417, 282 male newborns were circumcised” (Crooks and Baur, 2010). “The procedure takes only about 5 to 10 minutes using a local anesthetic and generally heals in five to seven days” (Health Finder: Circumcision, 1999). The history of male circumcision indicates reasons for its practice throughout the world.
Male circumcision can be dated back to 2340-2180 BC., Pharaonic times. Egyptian representations express a circumcised penis; therefore, it seems apparent that male circumcision had been practiced for many thousands of years. However, due to the uniqueness of the records, it is impossible to actually date the origins of male circumcision. Abraham is said to have been directed by God, in Genesis 17 of the Old Testament, to circumcise himself, his sons, and all other males in his house. “Thus circumcision is encouraged and
HED320, FALL 2011
Male Circumcision
As the controversy in male circumcision continues, potential health benefits are the deciding factors for infant male circumcision. The history of circumcision shows encouragement from places around the world, including opposing views from both sides, for undergoing this procedure. In recent history, the advancement in medical research has provided substantial benefits. The health benefits associated with circumcision provide prevention of serious, even life threating, diseases. The process of circumcision is briefly explained including supporting facts. The history and health benefits in male circumcision provide truthful and unbiased information allowing my firm decision to have a son circumcised.
Circumcision is the surgical removal of the prepuce of the foreskin, which is the skin that covers the tip of the penis. Circumcision is usually performed on the first or second day after birth and becomes a more complicated and riskier procedure in infants older than 2 months and in boys and men. “A recent nationwide survey of American hospitals revealed 55.9% of 417, 282 male newborns were circumcised” (Crooks and Baur, 2010). “The procedure takes only about 5 to 10 minutes using a local anesthetic and generally heals in five to seven days” (Health Finder: Circumcision, 1999). The history of male circumcision indicates reasons for its practice throughout the world.
Male circumcision can be dated back to 2340-2180 BC., Pharaonic times. Egyptian representations express a circumcised penis; therefore, it seems apparent that male circumcision had been practiced for many thousands of years. However, due to the uniqueness of the records, it is impossible to actually date the origins of male circumcision. Abraham is said to have been directed by God, in Genesis 17 of the Old Testament, to circumcise himself, his sons, and all other males in his house. “Thus circumcision is encouraged and
Cited: “Circumcision,” Health Finder, 1999. http://www.healthfinder.gov/ “The History of Circumcision,” Circumcision of Male Infant Research Paper, December 27, 2001. http://www.cirp.org/library/legal/QRLRC/02.html (accessed 10-17-2011) “Circumcision,” WebMD, April 2002. http://webmd.lycos.com/content/article/2953.494 (accessed 10-17-2011)