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Circumcision - ARLM Procedures & Information |
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Written by Association of Reform & Liberal Mohelim
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Monday, 14 October 2002 |
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Brit Milah, the covenant of circumcision, is a religious commandment (Genesis 17:11-12), practised by Jews and Muslims, whilst circumcision is practised by choice from Australia to America, from South Korea to Africa. One sixth of the world's male population are circumcised.
What is involved when you use the services of a doctor from the Association of Reform and Liberal Mohalim?
- A medical history is taken, including details of birth, feeding, medical problems, and family history.
- Arrangements for feeding on the day of the circumcision .
- Pain relief for the surgery- discussion, there is a choice of methods from injected anaesthetic (like the dentist) to local anaesthetic cream.
- Autoclaved (sterilisation by high pressure steam) surgical instruments - most use the Mogen shield, which is traditional. The operation is done as a sterile procedure using sterile gloves, and swabs (for the mopping or sucking of blood) etc. to approved medical standards.
- The shield is slipped onto the stretched, anaesthetised, foreskin, protecting the tip of the penis proper, and a cut made at the other side of the shield. The sensitive underskin is divided and reflected back to cover the gap from the removal of the foreskin.
- Some Mohelim routinely put dissolving stitches in place to hold the skin until healing ( in 7-10 days) and others use a carefully applied dressing, and some use both methods.
- Dressings are applied
- After care, including written instructions and contact numbers are arranged.
- A letter is provided for baby's family's doctor. Dressings are usually removed in 48 hours after a little soaking whilst baby has a bath, by a parent, though some mohelim are able to offer more supervision if the circumcision takes place in their community.
- A follow up appointment is made.
- The time of the operation varies, though the baby is observed carefully after surgery until it is deemed safe to leave.
All operations carry a risk. The risk from the operation is as follows (as taken from the Association of Reform and Liberal Mohalim annual audit):
- Excessive bleeding (2-4% cases). Some bleeding is always part of a surgical procedure. Excessive bleeding can be stopped by using stitches at the time.
- Infection ( 0-1% cases). Wounds may get sticky pus. In 341 circumcisions last year performed by members of the association, none got infected.
- Cosmetic outcome (1-2%) are of concern to doctors and parents. 9 out of 933 circumcisions had to have a redo, as reported to the association.
The medical pros and cons of circumcision are controversial - benefits have been cited as less urinary tract infections and ease of cleanliness, less sexual diseases, improved sex life, lowered chance of cancer of the penis, and lower chance of partners cancer of the cervix, and of course there is no foreskin to cause a pin-hole narrowing of the foreskin and infections (phimosis and balanitis). There may be skin ulceration of the tip of the penis after the foreskin had been removed when babies are in nappies. Some men have later psychological problems.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 27 April 2007 )
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