Circumcision (or circumcision otherwise) is a surgical procedure for removing the foreskin in boys, young men and adult men. Previously, this operation was carried out exclusively for religious purposes, but now it is also being carried out for a number of other reasons. In this article, we will tell you all about male circumcision. What is it, how is it carried out and why is it necessary. In addition, we describe how to care for the penis and what complications may appear after circumcision.
Male circumcision: what is it?
Circumcision is a surgical procedure aimed at removing the skin fold that covers the head of the penis in a calm state. The essence of the operation is to shorten the foreskin and expose the head. Depending on the place and amount of skin removed, several types of circumcision are distinguished:
- tight
- moderate (average);
- free;
- partial;
- minimum.
Tight circumcision involves the removal of a significant area of the skin. After such an operation, which, incidentally, is performed exclusively at the request of the patient, the penis is reduced in size. During an erection, the skin is very tightly stretched.
Moderate is considered the most common type of circumcision. During the operation, the foreskin is removed, opening the head. A small amount of skin is left in the coronal groove area. Free circumcision allows you to open the glans penis. In this case, the doctor leaves a small fold of skin in the area of the coronary sulcus. Partial circumcision in boys - what is it? It involves opening the head by only a third. As a rule, it is performed for medical reasons, since in religious traditions it is not considered valid. Minimal circumcision means excision of a small area of skin. It is also conducted only for medical reasons, and not because of religious beliefs.
How is circumcision performed?
The male circumcision procedure can be done in two ways. The first is called "manual." The surgeon excises the foreskin with a scalpel, and then sutures with absorbable sutures on the edges of the wound. The operation is performed under local anesthesia, in rare cases they use a general one. Sometimes the doctor uses special clamps instead of sutures, which are selected according to the size of the penis and left on it for 5-7 days, until the wound is completely healed. In general, the operation takes about 40 minutes. The second method of cutting is laser. The doctor, using special equipment, quickly and painlessly excises the foreskin. Laser male circumcision reduces the risk of postoperative inflammation and suppuration. After this procedure, tissue edema does not occur, and the rehabilitation time is reduced to a week.
Penile care after circumcision
What should be the care after circumcision in boys? The bandage should not be removed on the first day. So you reduce the risk of complications, including the inflammatory process. On the second day after circumcision, it is necessary to soak the bandage in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, remove the bandages. The wound must be treated with an antiseptic (furatsilinom) or antibacterial ointment (levomekolevoy, erythromycin or tetracycline). Then it will be necessary to impose a new bandage. This procedure should be repeated for 3-4 days, and then it will be possible not to use the ointment. When the seams dissolve, the dressings stop doing. Parents should remember that after circumcision, swelling of the tissues and cyanosis (at the injection sites) is possible, this is normal. In the wound itself, a yellow plaque sometimes appears - fibrin. This is also completely normal, which means that the healing process is ongoing. Over time, a scar will form at the site of the wound, which later takes the form of a skin fold.
The main causes of circumcision
Why do boys need circumcision? From ancient times this procedure was carried out according to religious beliefs. Jews and Muslims believe that circumcision is a sacred symbol of the union of the human soul and God. Removing the foreskin, a person removes the membrane that impedes the love of the Divine. In African countries, circumcision was a rite of passage for boys to men, and was also carried out for hygienic reasons. In the United States and European countries, circumcision is mainly performed for medical purposes. Indications for the procedure may include:
- paraphimosis and phimosis;
- difficulty urinating ;
- high risk of cancer;
- scar ring formation.
Also, for medical purposes, circumcision can be prescribed for the prevention of inflammatory diseases of the glans penis, skin and urinary tract. The procedure for removing the foreskin in the case of phimosis is carried out at the age of 7-12 years. The operation allows you to eliminate this anatomical defect and prevent the occurrence of problems in the sexual sphere.
Circumcision: contraindications and complications
The only contraindication for circumcision is acute balanoposthitis. This disease is an inflammation of the inner leaf of the foreskin and scalp, the causative agent of which is E. coli, streptococci and staphylococci. After treating the disease and stopping all the symptoms, circumcision becomes possible. What complications may occur after circumcision? Most often, men note a decrease in sensitivity and a deterioration in the quality of sexual life. Circumcision can cause more serious pathologies, including retraction of the penis into the body, the appearance of varicose veins, and fusion of the scar with the head. Also, circumcision can lead to deformation of the penis and the appearance of pain during intercourse. The most serious complication may be gangrene of the penis.
Instead of a conclusion
So, in this article we talked all about circumcision in boys. What is it, what types are there, and how is this procedure carried out. We also indicated in which cases the operation is performed for medical reasons and described how to care for the penis after removal of the foreskin. Be healthy!