The Hidden Dangers of Circumcision: What Every Parent Should Know

The Problem with Circumcision: A Closer Look at an Ancient Practice in a Modern World

Circumcision is a practice that dates back thousands of years, embedded in cultural, religious, and medical traditions across the globe. In many societies, it is performed routinely—on infants, adolescents, or adults—with little public debate. But as global health consciousness grows and questions about bodily autonomy, ethics, and consent take center stage, so too does the scrutiny around circumcision. Increasingly, researchers, activists, and individuals are speaking out about the potential problems associated with this deeply rooted practice. So, what exactly is the problem with circumcision?

1. The Question of Consent

Perhaps the most contentious issue surrounding circumcision is the lack of consent, particularly in the case of infants. Babies cannot agree to undergo this irreversible surgical procedure. Performing such a permanent alteration on a non-consenting individual raises ethical red flags, especially in societies that emphasise bodily autonomy and the right to self-determination.

Supporters often argue that parents have the right to make decisions in the best interest of their child. But opponents counter that circumcision is not medically necessary in most cases and should therefore be postponed until the individual can make an informed decision for themselves.

2. Health Problems Associated with Circumcision

While circumcision is often presented as a simple and safe procedure—particularly when performed in a medical setting—many people are unaware of the range of physical complications and potential long-term health consequences it can pose. These risks may vary depending on the age of the person, the technique used, the skill of the practitioner, and the conditions under which the procedure is performed. Still, they deserve deeper public discussion and awareness.

1. Immediate Physical Complications

Even when performed in sterile environments, circumcision can result in a number of immediate medical complications, especially in infants and young children. These include:

Bleeding (Haemorrhage): One of the most common risks. In some cases, bleeding can be severe and require emergency intervention.
Infection: As with any surgical procedure, circumcision can introduce bacteria into the body. Infections can range from minor skin infections to life-threatening sepsis.
Pain and Trauma: Infants feel pain, despite outdated beliefs to the contrary. Circumcision is often performed with inadequate anesthesia or none at all. This intense pain can cause stress responses in newborns, which may affect neural development.
Excessive Removal or Incomplete Circumcision: If too much or too little foreskin is removed, it can lead to long-term cosmetic or functional issues, and may require additional corrective surgery.
Urethral Injury: In rare but serious cases, the urethra may be accidentally cut or damaged, leading to lifelong urinary issues.

2. Long-Term Physical and Sexual Complications

Beyond the immediate effects, circumcision may also cause long-term issues that impact physical health and quality of life well into adulthood.

Loss of Protective Function: The foreskin protects the glans (head of the penis) from abrasion, dryness, and infection. Once removed, the glans is constantly exposed, which can lead to keratinisation (thickening and drying of the skin), altering sensitivity and increasing the risk of irritation.
Reduced Sexual Sensitivity: The foreskin is one of the most nerve-dense parts of the male anatomy. Its removal can reduce overall penile sensitivity, impacting sexual pleasure. Studies and self-reports vary, but many circumcised men later in life claim that they experience less sensation during sexual activity.
Painful Erections or Curvature (Chordee): Scar tissue from circumcision may cause abnormal curvature of the penis or pain during erection. Tight scar formation can also restrict natural expansion.
Skin Bridges or Adhesions: Sometimes, healing complications lead to the skin reattaching abnormally, requiring further medical attention or surgery.

3. Psychological and Emotional Effects

Though less visible, circumcision can also carry psychological impacts, particularly for those who learn later in life about the procedure done to them without their consent.

Emotional Trauma or PTSD: Some individuals experience feelings of violation, grief, or trauma—especially when circumcision was done without proper anesthesia or later found to have caused complications.
Body Image Issues: Men who feel unhappy with the results of circumcision may struggle with confidence, body image, or sexual identity issues.
Loss of Trust: Learning that a parent or doctor authorised an irreversible surgery without their consent can lead to resentment or mistrust in familial and medical relationships.

4. Complications from Non-Clinical Circumcision

In regions where circumcision is done for traditional, cultural, or religious reasons outside of medical facilities, the health risks multiply:

Use of Unsterilised Instruments: Increases the chance of infections like tetanus, gangrene, or transmission of blood-borne diseases.
Lack of Trained Practitioners: Many deaths and severe injuries have been recorded in areas where circumcision is carried out by traditional practitioners with little to no medical training.
Delayed or Denied Emergency Care: In some communities, complications are not treated promptly due to stigma, secrecy, or limited access to healthcare, which can worsen outcomes.

5. Surgical Revision and Complications in Adults

Adult men who choose circumcision later in life for religious, cultural, or medical reasons are not immune from complications:

Longer Healing Time: Adults heal more slowly and may experience prolonged pain, swelling, or sensitivity issues.
Increased Risk of Complications: Older individuals are more likely to experience adverse effects from surgery, including infections, scarring, and sexual dysfunction.
Regret or Dissatisfaction: Men circumcised in adulthood often report a mismatch between expectations and outcomes, including decreased sexual sensation and difficulties with arousal or satisfaction.

3. Questionable Medical Justifications

Many of the historical medical reasons for circumcision—such as preventing masturbation, reducing the spread of disease, or improving hygiene—have not held up under scientific scrutiny. While circumcision may reduce the risk of certain infections like urinary tract infections or HIV transmission in high-risk populations, these benefits are marginal in regions with access to clean water, good hygiene, and modern healthcare.

Opponents argue that these benefits do not justify routine infant circumcision and that less invasive, more ethical alternatives exist.

4. Impact on Sexual Sensation and Function

The foreskin contains thousands of nerve endings and serves as a protective and sensory part of the male anatomy. Removing it can result in decreased sensitivity and altered sexual function for some men. While studies on this are mixed—partly due to cultural bias and the difficulty in measuring subjective experiences—many men who were circumcised without consent report feelings of loss, betrayal, and frustration later in life.

These experiences have led to the growth of the intactivist movement—advocates for genital integrity and against non-consensual circumcision—arguing for the right to maintain one’s natural anatomy.

5. Cultural and Religious Sensitivity vs. Human Rights

Circumcision is deeply embedded in religious traditions, particularly within Jewish and Islamic communities. In such contexts, it is more than a medical procedure; it’s a rite of passage, a covenant, a cultural identifier.

However, the tension arises when cultural practices conflict with modern human rights values. Should tradition override an individual’s right to bodily autonomy? Should irreversible decisions be made on behalf of another person purely based on cultural continuity?

Striking a balance between respecting cultural practices and upholding individual rights is one of the most difficult challenges in this debate.

6. The Gender Double Standard

It is important to recognise that while female genital mutilation (FGM) is widely condemned and illegal in many countries, male circumcision remains widely accepted and even encouraged in some of the same regions. This raises questions about consistency in applying human rights principles. Why is genital alteration deemed unacceptable for girls but permissible for boys?

This double standard continues to fuel public debate and ethical reevaluation of male circumcision on a global scale.

Conclusion: Rethinking the Norm

Circumcision is a deeply entrenched global practice, but growing awareness is prompting society to reconsider its place in modern health, ethics, and law. While the choice to circumcise is ultimately personal (or parental), it should be informed, consensual, and critically examined rather than assumed to be benign or routine.

The problem with circumcision isn’t just the procedure itself—it’s the silence, the lack of consent, and the unwillingness to question something just because it’s tradition. In an era where bodily autonomy and informed consent are central pillars of human rights, it may be time to rethink whether circumcision should continue to be an unquestioned norm or an optional, informed choice made by the individual.

References:

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). (2012). “Circumcision Policy Statement.” Published in Pediatrics, 130(3), e756-e785. Available: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/130/3/e756
Frisch, M., et al. (2013). “Cultural Bias in the AAP’s 2012 Technical Report and Policy Statement on Male Circumcision.” Published in Pediatrics, 131(4), 796-800. Available: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/131/4/796
Morris, B. J., et al. (2016). “Estimation of country-specific and global prevalence of male circumcision.” Published in Population Health Metrics, 14(4). Available: https://pophealthmetrics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12963-016-0073-5
Earp, B. D. (2015). “The Ethics of Infant Male Circumcision.” Published in Journal of Medical Ethics. Available: https://jme.bmj.com/content/41/5/418
Sorrells, M. L., et al. (2007). “Fine-touch pressure thresholds in the adult penis.” Published in BJU International, 99(4), 864-869. Available: https://bjui-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2006.06685.x
Boyle, G. J., & Hill, G. (2011). “Sub-Saharan African randomised clinical trials into male circumcision and HIV transmission: Methodological, ethical and legal concerns.” Published in Journal of Law and Medicine, 19(2), 316-334. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22320006/
World Health Organization (WHO). (2007). “Male circumcision: Global trends and determinants of prevalence, safety, and acceptability.” Available: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241596169
Darby, R. (2015). “Risks, Benefits, Complications and Harms: Neglected Factors in the Current Debate on Non-Therapeutic Circumcision.” Published in Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal, 25(1), 1-34. Available: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/577586
Royal Dutch Medical Association (KNMG). (2010). “Non-therapeutic circumcision of male minors.” Available: https://www.knmg.nl/adviezen-standpunten/standpunten/non-therapeutic-circumcision-of-male-minors

This article is copyrighted by Ital is Vital, 2025. Want to re-post this article? Visit our guidelines.

DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this website is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.