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Male Circumcision Operation
How Males are Circumcised

by Jerry Kennard
for About.com

Updated November 01, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

The Circumcision Operation
In the United States most circumcisions take place for social, cultural and sometimes for religious reasons. Because of this circumcisions tend to be performed in the first few days or weeks of life. It is known that the older the infant or child is, the more complicated and riskier the operation can be.

A straight forward circumcision will take about 10 to 15 minutes. When a circumcision is performed for medical conditions the procedure will take longer.

The type of anesthesia used for circumcision will depend on the procedure being performed and on the patients age. Babies will often only have a numbing medicine. Circumcisions carried out on older and adolescent boys are usually performed using a general anesthetic.

Post Operative Care and Complications
Side effects of circumcision requiring medical attention include:

  • Bleeding. Blood loss in a small infant is always potentially dangerous.

  • If a child fails to pass urine after 6 to 8 hours after the operation.

  • If swelling and redness around the top of the penis does not go or gets worse after a 3 to 5 days.

  • A yellow discharge around the penis tip may indicate an infection.
  • Image of circumcised and uncircumcised men

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