Why circumcision is carried out in men

Circumcision may be carried out for:

  • medical reasons in men,circumcision is most commonly carried out when the foreskin is tight and won't pull back(retract), which is known as phimosis ; however, alternative treatments, such as topical steroids , are sometimes preferred
  • religious and cultural reasons circumcision isa common practice in the Jewish and Islamic communities, and it's also practised by many African communities; most cultural circumcisions are carried out on children
  • HIV prevention there's evidence that circumcision reduces the risk of heterosexual men acquiring HIV , andit's encouraged as part of HIV prevention programmes in some African countries with high rates of HIV
Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dez 2018