MALE CIRCUMCISION

Male Circumcision in Turkey

Male circumcision is a surgical operation in which the foreskin, the protective skin covering the head of the penis, is cut and removed. Although the procedure is usually performed on newborn babies or children, circumcision can be performed on teenagers and adults as well.

Causes of Circumcision

Male circumcision can be done because of family preference, religious reasons, cultural traditions or family tradition, or it can be done for a few medical reasons below. These causes include paraphimosis, phimosis, recurrent balanitis and balanoposthitis. Male circumcision operation can be performed to men of all ages.

Benefits and Risks of Male Circumcision

Circumcision helps to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STI), urinary tract infection (UTI) and cancer in men. Other benefits of circumcision can include:

• decreased risk of sexually transmitted diseases, including female-to-male transmission of HIV
• risk decreases of urinary tract infections in infection
• risk decreases of cervical cancer and some infections in female partners
• makes it easier to maintain good genital hygiene

Complications rarely occur in male circumcision. You may feel pain during and for a few days after the surgery. Infection and bleeding may occur after some operations. Other complications that may occur include:

• the need to remove stitches that haven’t dissolved
• permanent reduction in sensation in the head of the penis, particularly during sex
• tenderness around the scar
• you may need another operation to remove some more skin

Circumcision Procedure

Circumcision is a surgical operation that is usually completed in one day. Patients can usually go home the same day. You may receive full or local anesthesia during the surgery.

During circumcision surgery, the foreskin in the arc of the glans penis is removed with the help of surgical scissors or a scalpel. Potential bleeding is intervened with stitches and diathermy. The remaining edges of the leather are sewn together.

Healing Process After Circumcision

For a few days after the operation, swelling may be observed and pain may be felt at and around the head of the penis. After the first few days, you should not feel any discomfort or pain while urinating. You will need to wear loose and light clothing for a few days, and apply the medicine and creams prescribed by the surgeon to the head of your penis.

You may not be fit to drive for one day after the operation. Therefore, when the operation is completed, you should have someone with you to take you home. You should avoid sexual intercourse for at least one month after the operation. It will take at least 10 days for your penis to heal and the stitches to dissolve.

The aim of this article is to give you a general information about the surgical intervention in question. You need to make more research about possible complications and risks of this selected procedure in order to make an informed decision. Please note that complications occur more frequently with patients who are obese, smoke, and have a history or lung or other chronic underlying medical conditions.

Smokers are recognized to have a significantly higher risk of post operative wound healing problems with a subsequently higher potential of infection as well as operative and post operative bleeding. Patients should discontinue smoking for two weeks before and two weeks after surgery. Although it helps to stop smoking before and after surgery, this does not completely eliminate the increased risks resulting from long­ term smoking. Smoking also has a long term adverse effect on the skin and ageing process.