Choosing neonatal circumcision is a decision that falls with parents. It’s helpful to approach the subject with more understanding and less judgement. Dr Leon Levitt explains why.
70 years ago, most boys in Australia were circumcised. Circumcision was actively promoted in society and many dads reasoned that they wanted their boys to “look like them”.
Today, the rates have dropped dramatically and most babies who make up the 10-18% of circumcisions performed annually are circumcised for religious or cultural reasons.
It is a contentious issue with scientific results that can be found to support arguments both for and against. So where should parents turn if they’re considering circumcision for their boys?
Pro-snip parents: why some circumcise their sons
The answer to this question may differ depending on who you ask. Parents from Middle Eastern and some African countries may be sticking to the status quo (the rates of circumcision in such parts of the world are still in 90-99% range) or may feel deeply connected to the practice due to its history and meaning for their cultural and religious identity.
For immigrants living in Western countries, circumcision may be particularly important for their roots to their homeland and culture. Including their children in that sense of belonging may be the strongest factor for parents making this decision.
Similarly, parents who subscribe to certain religious beliefs may seek to include their sons in the tradition; a rite of passage for faith, if you will.
For a small number, there may be some belief that there are medical advantages to circumcision and they simply wish to do what they think is best for their child.
Whatever the reason, the common threads are a sense of belonging to family, a continuation of heritage and supporting the wellbeing of the child. Some parents think that circumcision, for them and their baby, is important.
And shouldn’t that be enough?
Reserving judgement in the great circumcision debate
It is becoming exceedingly difficult in this era of tech and social media to keep one’s opinion to oneself. There always seems to be a cause to jump on, a stand to take and something to get riled up about.
But the thing to remember is: if circumcision isn’t right for you or your family, don’t do it.
Understanding the nuance behind some parents’ reasons for getting their sons circumcised may not be apparent at first glance. It’s hard to set aside sentimentality when it comes to babies; they’re incredibly cute and innocent, after all, and the thought of a newborn potentially suffering any pain is not a pleasant one to have. Parents considering circumcision likely also have these thoughts and might choose to proceed through them, meaning that circumcision holds more importance and significance to them than it does to you.
You can disagree with the practice and still be empathetic towards different cultural, religious and personal beliefs (it’s what separates thoughtful humans from the chronically outspoken bots that reside online), and one way of doing this is by respecting parents’ decisions about their children without judgement.
Circumcision is not a matter of right or wrong; it is a choice, and one that parents should be allowed to make. For parents that do wish to get their baby circumcised, it helps to understand the procedure and what can be expected in the days following.
Getting circumcised: what does it involve?
From information available on Perth Circumcision Clinic’s website, circumcision is a quick, relatively painless procedure that follows these steps:
- Doctor provides the appropriate pain relief
- Foreskin is separated from the head of the penis with artery forceps, exposing the head
- Foreskin is folded back across the head
- Foreskin is stretched and clamped with special forceps that control bleeding and protect the head of the penis
- Excess skin is excised
- Residual skin is returned to position beneath the head of the penis
Why Dr Leon Levitt uses this technique
The steps in the above technique achieve a clean cut edge, provide good control of bleeding and a low rate of infection, and are also able to be performed in a very short amount of time.
Dressings are applied afterwards and the baby is returned to the parents, so that they can be fed and settled. The wound care advice available from Perth Circumcision Clinic is easy to follow and Dr Leon Levitt answers all questions and concerns parents may have in their appointment.
With some 30+ years of experience in the provision of neonatal circumcisions, parents can have confidence that they’ve picked the right doctor.
The importance of high quality, easy access circumcisions (for those who want them)
The truth of the matter is that some parents, for reasons that not all understand, will always want to have their sons circumcised. Out of responsibility and respect, it’s important that this cohort be catered to; those that want them should continue to have easy access to high quality neonatal circumcisions.
If circumcision is not your choice, then that’s absolutely fine. It won’t matter whether you can access the procedure easily or not and lack of availability will hold no bearing on your life. But for those for whom circumcision is significant (for whatever reason), having a trustworthy place that’s free of judgement is essential for your continued wellbeing and that of your child.
Advice from Dr Leon Levitt
The most important factor when considering circumcision for your child is access to reliable information. There are scientific studies out there that support the medical benefits of circumcision and there are others that do not. It’s hard to navigate the bias and it might not be a decision based on medical reasons, so talking to your GP is the most effective way that you can get the advice that’s best for you and your child.
If circumcision is the right choice for your family, you can find more information about booking at Perth Circumcision Clinic or call Baby Steps today.
