Male Circumcision Controversy free essay sample

Abraham is said to have been directed by God, in Genesis 17 of the Old Testament, to circumcise himself, his sons, and all other males in his house. â€Å"Thus circumcision is encouraged and widely practiced in the Islam and Jewish faiths, in accordance with Abraham’s covenant with God (The History of Circumcision, 2001). †The origin of male circumcision in non-religious theories, suggest that it was practiced as a punitive measure in puberty or premarital rites as an absolution against the feared toxic influences of vaginal (hymeneal) blood, and for other health benefits. It might also have been a mark of slavery or preformed for cosmetic reasons. Moreover, the custom to use the male genitals as war trophies was widespread in Middle Eastern history, and has also been recorded by the ancient Egyptians. â€Å"In the United States and other Western countries, the practice of male circumcision for non-religious reasons began at the beginning of the twentieth century. We will write a custom essay sample on Male Circumcision Controversy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Male troops during World War II were encouraged to be circumcised due to the limited personal hygiene facilities in overseas combat zones (The History of Circumcision, 2001). In recent history, it’s a continuing â€Å"debate about the potential health benefits of infant circumcision† (Crooks and Baur; Chapter 14, 2010). Circumcision was clearly a controversial issue throughout history. One side declares it a form of mutilation and child abuse. Others feel the medical benefits outweigh any risk from the procedure. Moreover, societies have bounced back and forth on the issue, declaring it a necessary procedure in one era and then declaring it an unnecessary one the next. South Koreans started circumcising their children during the American trusteeship after World War II, and the American practice of circumcision became universal in South Korea by the end of the Korean War in 1952† (The History of Circumcision, 2001). In 1950, the British Health Service removed non-therapeutic circumcision from the list of covered procedures and the practice of neonatal circumcision in the United Kingdom declined sharply. In 1975, the Canadian Pediatric S ociety took the same position, declaring it an unnecessary procedure. The matter rested until 1985 when new data collected from the United States Army medical records seemed to show a higher rate of urinary tract infection in non-circumcised boys. This declared that circumcision is a necessary procedure and the medical benefits offset and risks. History shows that the practice of â€Å"routine circumcisions have maintained that the procedure has significant health benefits† (Crooks and Bauer, Chapter 4, 2010). Aside from any religious beliefs or references, circumcision is known to prevent infections that may result in serious diseases. There is evidence relating to the health benefits of circumcision. â€Å"Numerous studies indicate that circumcision decreases the incidence of childhood urinary tract infections, adult penile cancer, and genital wart infections† (Crooks and Baur, Chapter 4, 2010). Other health benefits include the â€Å"prevention of balanoposthitis, phimosis and paraphimosis† and HIV infection (WebMD, 2011). Balanitis is an inflammation of the skin covering the head of the penis. A similar condition, balanoposthitis, refers to inflammation of the head of the penis and the foreskin. Symptoms include redness or swelling, itching, rash, pain, and a foul-smelling discharge. Balanitis occurs most often in uncircumcised men and boys who practice poor hygiene. The inflammation occurs in the â€Å"area under the foreskin, if not routinely cleaned, harbors a variety of infection-causing organisms† from sweat, debris, and dead skin (Crooks and Bauer, Chapter 4, 2010). This can lead to irritation with a foul-smelling substance, called smegma. Balanitis can also cause phimosis, â€Å"A condition characterized by an extremely tight penile foreskin† (Crook and Baur, Chapter 4, 2010). It is a condition often seen in newborns. However, balanitis can also be caused by an infection, or by the formation of scar tissue as a result of an injury. Paraphimosis is a condition that occurs when the foreskin, once it is retracted, cannot return to its original location. The foreskin becomes stuck behind the ridge of the head of the penis, and if the condition is prolonged, there can be pain and swelling, and an impaired blood flow to the penis. â€Å"In extreme cases, the lack of blood flow can result in the death of tissue (gangrene), and amputation of the penis may be necessary† (WebMD, 2011). â€Å"Paraphimosis may occur after an erection or after sexual activity. It can also result from an injury to the head of the penis† (WebMD, 2011). The head of the penis is â€Å"soft and prone to tiny lacerations that allow HIV to enter the bloodstream more easily† (Crooks and Baur, Chapter 15, 2010). HIV is a serious disease and I would encourage any method to prevent the possibility of infection. â€Å"A number of health professionals and researchers have suggested that circumcision may significantly reduce the risk of HIV infections by removing an entry point for the virus – the thin foreskin with its high concentrations of cells that are easily infected by HIV† (Crooks and Baur, Article page 474, 2010). Studies in South Africa indicated that circumcised males have a lower risk of contracting HIV than uncircumcised males. The scar tissue from tiny lacerations of uncircumcised men can cause the development of cancerous cells, because of high concentrations of CD4 and Langerhans cells. â€Å"Penile cancer is a rare form of cancer that occurs when abnormal cells in the penis divides and grow. Certain benign (non-cancerous) tumors may progress in stages of cancer. The exact cause of penile cancer is not known, but there are certain risk factors for the disease† (WebMD, 2011). Men who are not circumcised have a higher risk for getting cancer of the penis. â€Å"Adult men who were circumcised after birth, where satisfied with procedure. Men were at a lower risk of diseases and penile cancer. Some men also experienced an improvement in sexual satisfaction and performance† resulting in a positive outcome (For and Against Circumcision, Video, October 18). I’ve discovered interesting facts for the widely practice of circumcision for various reasons; ranging from religious, ritual, and most importantly the health benefits that prevent serious infections. I don’t recall any pain or experience psychological trauma, associated with male infant circumcision. I assume my use, assistance in, of analgesia helps with a smooth procedure of at most 10 minutes. I’m grateful that I was introduced to analgesia and the removal of unnecessary skin at a young age. I defiantly encourage the procedure to avoid the risks of infections. The history and health benefits in male circumcision provide truthful and unbiased information allowing my decision to persist, if I were to have a son. Although opposing views of male circumcision have been indecisive throughout history, it has been declared a necessity for health reasons. Thanks for the United States Army in providing medical records containing a history of urinary-tract infections from uncircumcised men. It has been proven that health the benefit outweighs the risks. Considering the possible risks, it seems that uncircumcised men may experience a great amount pain and suffering. Balanoposthitis, phimosis, and paraphimosis, are potential infections in uncircumcised men that cause inflammation and serious injury to the penis, circumcise him now!