Circumcision No Longer Medically Recommended for Prevention, Expert Says

Should My Son Get Circumcised? Medical Consensus Has Shifted

*Professor Choi Se-young of Chung-Ang University Hospital's Department of Urology weighs in on the changing medical perspective*

Circumcision was once considered a rite of passage for Korean males. During the late 1980s and 1990s, group circumcisions for elementary and middle school students were commonplace. Many underwent the procedure without adequate explanation, driven by peer culture and social convention rather than personal choice.

In an era of less advanced hygiene, circumcision may have served as a preventive measure against infections. However, medical consensus has shifted significantly as healthcare and living standards have improved.

Medical Indications Now Limited

Currently, circumcision is medically necessary only in specific cases: true phimosis causing urination or hygiene problems, recurrent balanitis, and painful sexual dysfunction. For these conditions, therapeutic circumcision can be beneficial.

"Circumcision performed solely for prevention without specific symptoms is no longer medically recommended," according to current medical guidelines.

A common misconception persists regarding foreskin adhesion in infants. The attachment between the glans and foreskin in young children is a completely normal "physiological phimosis." This naturally separates through epithelial cell activity, hormonal changes during puberty, and natural erections. By post-puberty, 99% of cases resolve spontaneously.

International Guidelines Align

Major American and European medical associations do not uniformly recommend preventive circumcision for newborns or children. They advise comprehensive consideration of potential surgical complications, anesthesia risks, and the possible future need for foreskin in reconstructive procedures.

Crucially, newborns do feel pain. The past practice of performing circumcision without anesthesia is no longer acceptable by current standards.

Recent international guidelines emphasize prioritizing medical necessity and respecting parental and patient choice based on thorough explanation, rather than making uniform decisions.

Benefits and Limitations

Circumcision can facilitate easier hygiene maintenance by preventing secretion buildup under the foreskin and reducing balanitis incidence. Some international studies indicate that under certain conditions, circumcision may lower transmission risk of sexually transmitted infections including HPV and HIV.

However, these effects vary by region and individual risk factors. Circumcision is not recommended as an essential preventive measure against STIs.

Psychological benefits from improved appearance are also cited. Claims of reduced sexual sensitivity lack clear scientific evidence, with meta-analyses showing no significant difference in sexual satisfaction.

Some report relief from premature ejaculation symptoms, but this likely reflects temporary sensitivity changes from glans exposure rather than a proven treatment effect.

Timing and Autonomy

The procedure should be performed at minimum when the patient can understand and tolerate local anesthesia. Ideally, the individual should be old enough to make an informed decision.

In the past, circumcision was trivialized as "whale-catching day" or "pork cutlet day" because parents made the decision for their children. Today, allowing children to grow and make their own choice has become an important value.

This reflects respect for "bodily autonomy"—the right of individuals to make decisions about medical procedures affecting their own bodies.

Delaying circumcision is not neglect. Rather, it may represent mature consideration that grants children time to contemplate and decide about their own bodies. In today's era, individual autonomy in medical decisions must take precedence above all else.