As medical literature slowly starts to acknowledge the issues surrounding circumcision it has helped dispel a once held myth by doctors that circumcision was the standard prescription to some common issues. The awareness within the medical community of the efficacy of topical steroids, antibiotics, and some alternative surgical methods shows that professionals are starting to recognise that (like all surgeries) the risk of complications should be a factor when prescribing solutions.
According to the UK’s NHS website, the page dedicated to information on phimosis reads as follows:
“When surgery may be needed:
Surgery may be needed if a child or adult has severe or persistent balanitis or balanoposthitis that causes their foreskin to be painfully tight.
Circumcision (surgically removing part or all of the foreskin) may be considered if other treatments have failed, but it carries risks such as bleeding and infection.
This means it’s usually only recommended as a last resort, although it can sometimes be the best and only treatment option.
Alternatively, surgery to release the adhesions (areas where the foreskin is stuck to the glans) may be possible. This will preserve the foreskin but may not always prevent the problem recurring.”
Taken from the NHS website for phimosis, or tightness of the foreskin.
Whilst this is a natural step in the right direction as doctors become more aware of the issues that can affect men there are still an overabundance of medical professionals who are ignorant or ill-trained with regards to these problems. Despite the NHS website swiftly skimming past the issues it does bring hope by virtue of the fact that circumcision should be a total last resort.
What is meant by “surgery may be needed”:
Surgery does not = circumcision.
Whilst the quote above can be unnerving to some of those who are trying to avoid circumcision, there are still surgical techniques that can be used in the most drastic scenarios that can still be less drastic than a full circumcision. If you have been prescribed a circumcision then we urge you to consider it very carefully and to fully look into other possible methods including stretching, using steroid cream, preputioplasty, frenuloplasty.
Recently, we received some words of support from a grateful visitor to our website.
Hi there, I just wanted to thank you for all your help and work. I have been stuck with phimosis all my life and it has severely affected my confidence. Your reading and the wider charity have shown that there is light at the end of the tunnel. 1 month of using your manual techniques and my phimosis has all but disappeared – another month and I expect it to have entirely gone. I was meant to have surgery next month but I postponed it until July because I saw improvements in my condition – I will now cancel it.
He continues in pointing out how much information is lacking for the public to find.
I have made a post on a message board recommending this charity as information associated with the work your charity does is hard to find online – even for a person in their early 20’s such as myself! If there is anything else I can do then I will be more than happy to help! Again – Thank You.
Consequences & Alternatives
For information on better solutions to issues affecting the foreskin then please check our advice section.
In our research and publications, we have some select quotes from men who have been caused significant damage by their circumcisions and we recommend that anyone who has been prescribed a circumcision to read some of the personal first-hand accounts of the recipients of this largely archaic and outdated procedure.
Jason Metters, Editor at 15Square
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