At a hospital in the United States, a pair of new parents is trying to decide wh

Question

At a hospital in the United States, a pair of new parents is trying to decide whether to have their newborn son circumcised. What structure(s) are removed during the circumcision of a male? What is the usual procedure for performing a circumcision on a newborn? Is usually used, and if so, what type? Are there usually harmful side effects from male circumcision? Is male circumcision medically necessary or beneficial? If not, why are male circumcisions done? Meanwhile in a village in Mali, West Africa, a young girl's parents are trying to decide whether to have her circumcised. What structure(s) are removed during the circumcision of a female, and how are they removed? (answers may vary depending on custom) Is usually used, and if so, what type? Are there usually harmful side effects from female circumcision? Is female circumcision medically necessary or beneficial? If not, why are female circumcisions done?

Explanation / Answer

During male circumcision, the foreskin which is the tissue that covers the head of the peni*is removed. The usual procedure is where the foreskin is separated from the peni*head and the remaining foreskin is clipped and removed. Usually a local or a topical anaesthetic agent is used to reduce pain. The side effects may be risk of infection, risk of bleeding, pain, risk of injury to the peni* and inflammation at the peni* opening site It is not medically necessary, but some studies have shown the following benefits: reduced risk of infections in the urinary tract, reduced incidence of cancer of the peni*, prevention of (phimosis) inability to retract foreskin. It is usually done due to personal preferences or religious beliefs. Sometimes it is done to treat some preventable diseases. During female circumcision, the external female genitalia is removed either partially or totally. It is usually done by traditional circumcisers. No anaesthetic agent is used It only harms girls. The side effects may be excessive bleeding, severe pain, fever, genital tissue swelling, infections, injury to genitalia, tetanus infection, shock and death. There is health benefit for this procedure. It is done as a social norm. It is done as a cultural tradition.

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