Adult Male Circumcision: cerimony, benefits and pictures.

Male circumcisionMale circumcision means the removal of most or sometimes all of the foreskin or the prepuce as it is also known from the penis. The word itself is a derivative of the latin word circum which means around and cedere which means to cut. Circumcision has been practiced as a ritual from the times of the ancient Egyptians , where it has been depicted in in cave drawing and also in ancient Egyptian tombs. The ritual of circumcision is considered a edict from god in Judaism and jews circumcise the male child at a very early age. Circumcision is also routinely practiced in all sects of Islam. The world health organization states that approximatel 30% of males in the world are circumcised and 68% of those are muslims. The performance and prevalence of male circumcision is mostly dictated by the religious orientation and culture of a particular society. The practice of male circumcision though is not without controversy, advocates of the practice state that it is a healthy practice and the benefits of the procedure far outweigh its risks, it is believed to have little effect on the sexual functioning, and very few to almost no complications are ever reported when performed by an experienced surgeon and is best, when performed in neonates. Opponents of the practice however state that the procedure itself is very painful, increases the risk of infection, and directly influences the sexual performance of a male in later years. Human right activists also claim that it is violation of human rights when performed on neonates and children. The major health associations of the world as well the American medical association state that they do not recommend the practice of circumcision in neonates. The WHO in 2007 in aunited nations aids report stated that studies tend to indicate that male circumcision significantly reduces the risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV during intercourse, but at the same time is not a fool proof method of ensuring safety from sexually transmitted diseases, this can only be ensured through traditional preventive measure practiced during sex.In present day practice of the procedure instruments such as the Gomco clamp , platisbell and mogen clamp are widely available and used. The procedure of performing the circumcision is the same , the amount of foreskin to be resected is first measured, then opened via the preputial orifice to allow visualization of the glans underneath and ensure it is normal. The preputial epithelium or the inner lining of the foreskin is then separated from its attachment to the glans, the particular device is then placed in that area and stays there until adequate hemostasis is achieved. Circumcision among adult males is mostly performed without the use of clamps but requires the patient to practice complete abstinence for a period of upto 5 weeks, to allow for proper healing. In poorer countries the custom of performing the male circumcision is not undertaken by a medical person or surgeon, but by priests in unsterile conditions which increase the risk of infection post procedure. The foreskin after circumcision is not always discarded and maybe used for biomedical research.