If you’re having a baby boy, one of the first decisions you'll make on his behalf is whether or not to have him circumcised.
Circumcision is a surgical procedure that cuts away the foreskin that covers the head of your son’s penis.
Circumcision is an optional, elective procedure. The decision to have your son circumcised or not may depend on your culture, religion, or personal preferences.
If you choose to have your baby circumcised, you should schedule the procedure as soon as possible with a pediatrician, an obstetrician, or a trained religious leader. As with any surgical procedure, you'll need to sign a consent form.
Complications of newborn circumcision occur in 0.2% to 3% of cases. The most frequent complications include minor bleeding and local infection, which are easily treatable.
There are a range of pain management options available to help keep your baby as comfortable as possible. Before the procedure, you should discuss pain management options with your health care provider.
After the procedure, your provider will provide you with information on how to care for your son's penis and how to spot signs of infection or other problems.
If you’re considering circumcision, you may want to discuss several things with your partner and your child’s pediatrician, including:
The health care professionals at UPMC will respect and support your circumcision choice, whatever it is.
Although circumcision appears to offer some medical benefits, it's important to know that the potential increased risk for uncircumcised males is low. For example, the increased risk of a urinary tract infection (UTI) is only 1% or lower for uncircumcised males.
Last reviewed by a UPMC medical professional on 2024-09-05.
