Yes or No to Circumcision? – Is the Question

We talked to experts in urology and surgery to see if it is better to subject a man to circumcision or not.

Circumcision is something that is still considered to be something a man does for religious reasons. However, besides them there are hygienic, medical and aesthetic reasons to take this medical procedure. We talked to the experts that work in this field.

Many health studies have been carried out on the topic for its advantages and disadvantages, but men who are circumcised for reasons that are not religious can ask themselves is it better to be circumcised or not.

Easier to maintain hygiene

“It is better to be circumcised. Especially is a man has problems with fungal or other infections on their penis. With men it is possible that the foreskin breaks, which causes scars. These scars can lead to the inability of pulling the skin over the penis, which can be very painful. Circumcision is positive from the hygienic side, because a moist layer is not created which can be suitable for the development of bacteria. In general, a circumcised penis is easier to hygienically maintain, because of which the organ is automatically healthier” – explained the surgeon and urologist Dusko Maletic.

We found out from the “Maletic” clinic that the circumcision itself is a simple and painless operation that lasts only 30 minutes, and is carried out under local anaesthetic.

Religion before aesthetics and hygiene

“Men rarely get a circumcision for aesthetic reasons, much more often they have problems with infections and scars. After circumcision it is necessary to wait 2-3 weeks for the wound to heal, and in that period it is not recommended to have sexual intercourse to avoid bleeding. However, during that period there is no pain. Side effects are very rare, but in the case of incorrect hygiene there can be infections” said Maletic.

“When hygiene and health are in question, circumcision is a positive thing, because it contributes to cleanliness and gathers dirt less. However, in Croatia it is not common. It is still done more often for religious reasons that aesthetic or medical reasons” said the aesthetic surgeon dr. Zoran Zgaljardic.

Circumcision and HPV

A study carried out in February 2009 suggests that circumcised men have less chances of being infected by the HPV virus. The study was carried out by American scientists on 285 men, aged 18 to 44, whose health was monitored during 18 months.

When the risk of getting HPV is concerned, it increases parallel with the number of sexual partners. With most people, their immune system defends itself from it, however repeated infections can lead to carcinomas.

When “cleaning” the organism of HPV, circumcision has shown to be useful. Circumcised men have a three times higher probability of getting rid of any type of the approximately hundred types of HPV compared to those not circumcised. Even though scientists do not quite know the reason for this, they assume the reason is that circumcised men have less damaged skin when having intercourse, so less of the HPV virus enters their organism.

Circumcision does not endanger your sex life

Between 2002 and 2003, Turkish scientists studied how circumcision influences male sexual functions. They only studied men who were circumcised for aesthetic or religious reasons. The average age of those surveyed was 22.3 years old, and their sexual functions were equal before and after circumcision. After the survey was carried out, scientists concluded that circumcising grown men does not negatively effect their sexual functions. On the contrary, the fact that it causes a delay in ejaculation is more of an advantage than a complication.