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and Jews throughout most of history as a sign of their covenant with God, circumcision became widespread in the United States in the late 19th century, when it was theorized that removing the foreskin would make the penis less sensitive (it definitely doesn’t), thus making masturbation a less tempting pursuit (it definitely didn’t). In the years that followed, many other medical indications for routine circumcision have been proposed—including preventing or curing epilepsy, syphilis, asthma, lunacy, and tuberculosis. None of them have panned out.
    So are there any proven medical benefits to circumcision? It does reduce the risk of infection of the penis (but cleaning under the foreskin once it is retractable—usually around the second birthday—does just as well). It also eliminates the risk of phimosis, a condition in which the foreskin remains tight as a child grows and can’t be retracted as it normally can in older boys (between 5 and 10 percent of uncircumcised males have to undergo circumcision sometime after infancy because of infection, phimosis, or other problems). And studies show that the risk of developing a urinary tract infection (UTI) in the first year of life is higher for baby boys who are uncircumcised (though the actual risk of an uncircumcised boy developing a UTI is very low—about 1 percent). The rates of penile cancer and STDs, including HIV, may also be slightly lower for circumcised males.
    Wondering where the experts come down on circumcision? Actually, most don’t—and that includes the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which maintains that while the health benefitsof circumcision outweigh the risks of the procedure, it’s still a decision best left to the parents. They recommend that parents be advised of the risks and benefits of circumcision and then make the unpressured choice that’s right for their baby and their family—factoring in what matters most to them (whether that’s having their son match up with dad, following a religious or cultural tradition, or just the belief that baby boys should be left intact).
    Just over half of all boys in the United States are circumcised—the rate having dropped considerably in recent years. The most common reasons parents give for opting for circumcision, in addition to just “feeling it should be done,” include:
    â€¢ Religious observance. The religious laws of both Islam and Judaism require that newborn boys be circumcised.
    â€¢ Cleanliness. Since it’s easier to keep a circumcised penis clean, cleanliness is next to godliness as a reason for circumcision in the United States.
    â€¢ The locker-room syndrome. Parents who don’t want their sons to feel different from their friends or from their father or brothers often choose circumcision. Of course, as the percentage of circumcised babies steadily declines, this becomes less of a consideration.
    â€¢ Appearance. Some maintain that a foreskin-free penis is more attractive.
    â€¢ Health. Some parents just don’t want to take even the slightest added risk when it comes to their newborn’s health.
    The reasons why parents decide against circumcision include:
    â€¢ The lack of medical necessity. Many question the sense of removing a part of an infant’s body without a really good reason.
    â€¢ Fear of bleeding, infection, and worse. Though complications are rare when the procedure is performed by an experienced physician or medically trained ritual circumciser, they do happen—and that’s enough reason for some parents to be understandably apprehensive about circumcising their newborn.
    â€¢ Concern about pain. Evidence shows that newborns circumcised without pain relief experience pain and stress measured by changes in heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels. The AAP recommends that circumcision be done with effective pain relief (such as topical EMLA cream, dorsal penile nerve block,