Circumcision in boys: what is and what is needed?

Circumcision (or otherwise circumcision) is a surgical procedure for removing prepuce in boys, boys and men. Earlier this operation was conducted exclusively for religious purposes, and now it is carried out for a number of other reasons. In this article we will tell all about circumcision in boys. What is, how it is conducted and for what it is needed. In addition, we describe how to care for the penis and what complications may occur after circumcision.

Circumcision in boys: what is it?

Circumcision - a surgical intervention aimed at removing the skin fold, covering the head of the penis in a calm state. The essence of the operation is a shortening of the foreskin and denudation of the head. Depending on the location and amount of skin removed, several types of circumcision are distinguished:

• Tight;
• Moderate (mean);
• Free;
• Partial;
• The minimum.

Tight circumcision involves the removal of a large area of the skin. After such an operation, which, by the way, is performed exclusively at the request of the patient, the penis decreases in size. During an erection the skin is very tightly stretched.
Moderate is considered the most common type of circumcision. During the operation, remove the foreskin by opening the head. In the area of the coronary furrow leave a small amount of skin. Free circumcision allows you to open the head of the penis. In this case, the doctor leaves a small crease of the skin in the region of the coronal sulcus. Partial circumcision in boys - what is it? It involves opening the head by only a third. As a rule, it is performed on medical grounds, as in religious traditions it is not considered valid. Minimal circumcision means excision of a small area of skin. It is also conducted only for medical reasons, and not because of religious beliefs.

How is circumcision carried out?

The procedure for circumcision in boys can be carried out in two ways. The first one is called "manual". The surgeon cuts the foreskin with a scalpel, then applies seams with absorbable threads to the edges of the wound. The operation is performed under local anesthesia, in rare cases, use the general. Sometimes a doctor uses special clips instead of stitches, which are selected according to the size of the penis and left on it for 5-7 days, until the wound is fully healed. In general, the operation takes about 40 minutes. The second method of circumcision is laser. The doctor, using special equipment, quickly and painlessly excludes the foreskin. Circumcision in boys with a laser reduces the risk of postoperative inflammation and suppuration. After this procedure, there is no edema of the tissues, and the rehabilitation time is reduced to a week.

Care of the penis after circumcision

What should be the care after circumcision in boys? The first day you can not remove the bandage. So you reduce the risk of complications, including the inflammatory process. On the second day after circumcision it is necessary to soak the bandage in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, remove the bandages. The wound should be treated with an antiseptic (furatsilinom) or antibacterial ointment (levomekolevoy, erythromycin or tetracycline). Then it will be necessary to impose a new bandage. This procedure should be repeated within 3-4 days, and then it will be possible to not use the ointment. When the seams dissolve, the dressings stop doing. Parents should remember that after the circumcision there may be an edema of the tissues and cyanosis (in the places of injections), this is normal. In the very wound sometimes there is a plaque of yellow color - fibrin. This is also completely normal, so the healing process is on. Over time, a wound will form on the wound site, which later becomes a skin fold.

The main causes of circumcision

Why is circumcision necessary for boys? Since ancient times, this procedure was carried out on religious beliefs. Jews and Muslims believe that circumcision is a sacred symbol of the union of the human soul and God. Removing the foreskin, a person removes the shell, which prevents love of the Divine. In African countries, circumcision acted as a rite for the initiation of boys into men, and was also carried out for hygienic reasons. In the US and European countries, circumcision is mainly carried out for medical purposes. Indications for the procedure can be:

• Paraphimosis and phimosis;
• Difficulty urinating ;
• High risk of cancer;
• Formation of cicatrical ring.

Also for medical purposes, circumcision can be prescribed for the prevention of inflammatory diseases of the glans penis, skin and urinary tract. The procedure for removal of the prepuce in the case of presence of phimosis is carried out at the age of 7-12 years. The operation allows to eliminate this anatomical defect and prevent the appearance of problems in the sexual sphere.

Circumcision: contraindications and complications

The only contraindication for circumcision is an acute balanoposthitis. This disease is an inflammation of the inner leaf of the foreskin and skin of the head, the causative agent of which is Escherichia coli, streptococci and staphylococci. After treatment of the disease and relief of all symptoms, circumcision becomes possible. What complications can occur after circumcision? Most often, men report a decrease in sensitivity and a deterioration in the quality of sexual life. Circumcision can cause more serious pathologies, including pulling inward the penile body, the appearance of varicose veins, the fusion of the scar with the head. Also circumcision can lead to deformation of the penis and the appearance of painful sensations during sexual intercourse. The most serious complication may be gangrene of the penis.

Instead of concluding

So, in this article we told all about circumcision in boys. What is, what kinds are, and how this procedure is carried out. We also indicated in which cases the operation is performed for medical reasons and described how to take care of the penis after removal of the prepuce. Be healthy!