Circumcision or circumcision is procedure surgery to remove the outer skin covering the head of the penis. Circumcision can be performed on newborns, children, or adults, whether based on religious reasons nor health.
Circumcision is performed by removing the foreskin, which is the skin that covers the head of the penis. This procedure can be done in a hospital or in a clinic. In healthy babies, circumcision can be done in the first 10 days after birth.
There are several health benefits for men who undergo the circumcision procedure, namely:
- Makes it easy to clean the head of the penis
- Reducing the risk of getting sexually transmitted infections
- Prevents penile cancer, balanitis, balanopostitis, phimosis, and paraphimosis
- Reducing the risk of cervical cancer in partners
Circumcision Indications
Circumcision procedures can be performed for religious reasons, to prevent disease, or to treat a number of diseases that can no longer be treated by other methods of treatment. Some of these diseases are:
- Balanitis, which is swelling of the foreskin
- Balanoposthitis, which is inflammation of the foreskin and head of the penis
- Phimosis, which is a condition when the foreskin cannot be pulled back from the head of the penis
- Paraphimosis, which is a condition when the foreskin cannot return to its original position after being pulled back
Circumcision Warning
Before undergoing the circumcision procedure, the patient needs to consult a doctor first. Doctors will delay or cancel the circumcision procedure in patients with the following conditions:
- Born prematurely
- Have a penis deformity
- Have a small penis (micropenis)
- Suffering from hypospadias and epispadias, namely abnormalities in the position of the urinary tract and openings on the penis
- have multiple sexes (ambiguous genitalia)
- Suffering from blood clotting disorders
BeforeCircumcision
Before undergoing the circumcision procedure, the doctor will tell you the benefits and risks of complications from this procedure. The doctor will also ask for a family medical history, especially if there is a blood clotting disorder, such as hemophilia or Von Willebrand disease.
In patients who want to be given general anesthesia, the doctor will ask the patient not to eat and drink about 6 hours before the circumcision.
Circumcision Procedure
Before the circumcision procedure begins, the doctor will give a local anesthetic or general anesthesia, either in the form of an injection or a cream. Local anesthesia will only numb the penis and surrounding area, while general anesthesia will make the patient unconscious during the circumcision procedure.
After the anesthetic works, the patient's penis and groin area will be cleaned first. Next, the doctor will pull the foreskin forward, then clamp and cut it using a knife or surgical scissors.
The next step is to stop the bleeding by heating the area of the circumcised penis (cauterization). After that, the doctor will sew the remaining outer skin that is still there with the inner skin of the penis using a type of sewing thread that easily blends with the skin.
After all the steps above are completed, the penis will be applied with antibiotic cream and bandaged. The entire circumcision procedure usually lasts only 10 minutes.
After Circumcision
Patients are allowed to go home immediately after the circumcision procedure is complete. The doctor will provide a routine control schedule so that the patient's recovery process can be monitored properly.
In infants, the healing process after circumcision can take 7–10 days. Meanwhile, in children and adult patients, recovery can take up to 3 weeks.
For 3-4 days after circumcision, the patient will experience pain and swelling in the area of the head of the penis. The head of the penis will also look red or bruised. Complaints are a normal thing to happen.
To help the healing process, there are several things patients can do, namely:
- Clean the penis every day using only water and mild soap until it heals.
- Change the bandage daily or when it gets wet. Don't forget to apply antibiotic cream and petroleum jelly before putting on a new bandage.
- Compress the painful or swollen area with ice wrapped in a towel. Do it alternately between being compressed and resting, each for 20 minutes in the first 24 hours after circumcision.
- Take pain relievers prescribed by your doctor, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
- Wear loose-fitting pants for 2-3 days after the circumcision to help the penis heal and prevent irritation of the penis.
- Do not do strenuous activities and sports and avoid having sex for 4-6 weeks after circumcision.
Immediately consult a doctor if you experience the following complaints during the healing period:
- Fever
- Bleeding that doesn't stop
- Redness and swelling in the penis is getting worse
- There are signs of infection, such as a lump filled with pus
- Not urinating until 12 hours after circumcision
Circumcision Complications
In general, circumcision is a safe procedure. However, in rare cases, a person undergoing this procedure may experience complications, such as:
- Pain, injury, or irritation in the penis
- Bleeding and infection in the circumcised penis area
- Increased risk of meatitis (inflammation of the urinary opening)
- Reduced sensitivity of the head of the penis during sexual intercourse
- The skin on the circumcision scar hardens
- The removed foreskin is too short or too long
- Healing lasts a long time
- Need a re-circumcision procedure