At La Femme Health we believe in preventative health maintenance and one way is to offer newborn circumcision to our patients (and non-patients) who have a newborn son. The following presents a limited summary of newborn male circumcision and how we advise our patients to take care of them. For more information, please click on the links at bottom.

Benefits 

• Prevention of urinary tract infections in infants
• Prevention of penile cancer in adult men
• Reduced risk of developing certain sexually transmitted diseases
• Reduced risk of developing cervical cancer in female sexual partners
• Reduced risk of developing penis infection and swelling
• American Academy of Pediatrics task force on Circumcision states: Evaluation of current evidence indicates that the health benefits of newborn male circumcision outweigh the risks, and the benefits of newborn male circumcision justify access to this procedure for those families who choose it.

Complications

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Damage to the glans penis (the tip)

Post Procedure Care

• Do not remove the Vaseline gauze for the first 24 hours post procedure (unless it is soiled with poop or has fallen off, in which case clean and reapply with excess bandage given when you left the office)
• The purpose of the Vaseline gauze is to apply pressure to the cut surface and stop micro bleeding WHILE keeping area clean so do not remove unless soiled or 24 hours has passed.
• AFTER 24 hours has passed and the Vaseline gauze has been removed, please clean the area gently with warm water at least once a day & whenever it becomes dirty after bowel movement and pat dry
• A small amount of bleeding is normal, but if it doesn’t stop (after applying gentle pressure) or is bigger than a “quarter coin” call MD or go to nearest ER.
• If baby hasn’t voided (a wet diaper) in 12 hours call MD or go to nearest ER
• Immediately after procedure some swelling is normal in the cut area or near the base where lidocaine was applied, if swelling doesn’t resolve by 3 days bring baby in for eval or go to ER.
• If baby has fever greater than 100.4F go to nearest ER
• If penis has a yellow discharge or coating after 7 days bring in for eval by MD
• Pain meds are not necessary if you choose to give it follow proper directions and dosage.
• Remember your boy can be a “show-er” vs a “Grower”, if a grower you may need to check the penis frequently during the first week after procedure to make sure the glans penis is not retracted back in the shaft, if that happens, the cut skin can fibrose and CLOSE over the penis needing another procedure or painful extraction of penis and enlarging of the fibrosed scarred skin.
• PLEASE PULL SKIN DOWN PASSED PENILE GROOVE OFTEN DURING THE FIRST WEEK TO PREVENT FIBROSIS OF SCAR AROUND PENILE HEAD
• No bathing for 72 hours post-procedure, use sponge baths if you must cleanse your son.
• Wash your hands before touching the cut penis,
• DONOT use alcohol or peroxide to clean as they slow healing.
• The penis should be completely healed by 7-10 days.

Further reading on circumcision please click on the following links

https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/130/3/e756/30225/Male-Circumcision

https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/fact-sheets/hiv/male-circumcision-HIV-prevention-factsheet.html

https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/factsheets/MC-for-HIV-Prevention-Fact-Sheet_508.pdf