here's the article I mentioned
And I so agree.... this is so lame.... but it's what people read and believe. It's hard working in a mainstream environment sometimes....
News Review From Harvard Medical School -- Circumcision May Reduce STDs
Being circumcised may reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) by half, researchers say. A study from New Zealand tracked 510 babies through age 25. The circumcised males had lower STD rates, USA Today reported. The study was published November 6 in the journal Pediatrics.
By Henry H. Bernstein, D.O.
Harvard Medical School
What Is the Doctor's Reaction?
Every year, more than 1 million newborn boys are circumcised. In this surgical procedure, the foreskin that covers the tip of the penis is removed.
Parents may choose to have their sons circumcised for religious, health, or cultural reasons. Other parents say no because they feel there isn't any good reason or medical need to have it done.
A new study in this month's journal Pediatrics provides further evidence that circumcision may reduce the risk of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). It's thought that the area under the foreskin of uncircumcised males may be a good place for infections to occur.
The study followed more than 500 newborns in New Zealand from birth until age 25. Males who were circumcised were far less likely to report infection with an STD.
Researchers also looked at other things that increase the risk of STDs. These included how often the men used condoms, how many sexual partners they had had, and their family backgrounds. Even allowing for these risks, circumcised men still had lower rates of STDs.
Circumcision reduces the rate of urinary tract infections in young babies. It also reduces the rate of penile cancer in men. Both of these conditions are much rarer than STDs, however.
Most importantly, this study adds more evidence that circumcision may have valuable health benefits that outweigh the risks of the procedure.
What Changes Can I Make Now?
It is a parent's choice whether or not to have a new baby boy circumcised. Whatever you think about circumcision, it is key that you make an informed decision.
The most important thing you can do is learn all about circumcision. Talk with your baby's doctor about the benefits and risks, so you fully understand the procedure.
The possible benefits include:
Lower risk of penile cancer
Fewer STDs
Fewer urinary tract infections in the first year of life
Reduced chance of HIV/AIDS
No "extra" cleaning of areas around and under the foreskin
The possible risks of circumcision include:
Bleeding at the site
Pain associated with the surgery
Infection
A cut that needs stitches
A reaction to the numbing medicine used
Another study of more than 350,000 male newborns suggested that circumcision is relatively safe. The study found that some complication occurred in 1 of every 476 circumcisions. Most of these were minor.
What Can I Expect Looking to the Future?
It may be time for the experts to look again closely at the evidence about circumcision. Perhaps the American Academy of Pediatrics should reconsider its 1999 statement opposing routine circumcision of baby boys. The statement suggests that the scientific evidence at that time did not clearly support routine circumcision.
Long-term studies on the benefits and risks of circumcision are also likely. Other researchers may study the best way to limit the pain of circumcision for newborns.
:
:
:
