Congratulations, it’s a boy!
Any parent would be elated to welcome a newborn into their family. But, with a boy arriving, some face an added dilemma in regards to their child’s well-being – what about the question of circumcision? Should this be considered when the child is a newborn, or should only until they are older?
For some parents, circumcision may come as a natural decision, especially when it’s due to religious or cultural reasons. However, more families are becoming aware about the procedure, leading to its increased popularity as a medical decision as well.
But first – what is circumcision?
In essence, male circumcision is a procedure that involves the removal of the skin that covers the tip of the penis. It is commonly done as part of a cultural or religious ritual, particularly among Muslims, Jews, as well as certain aboriginal tribes in Africa and Australia. In modern medicine, it is a common procedure conducted all over the world among newborn babies, and even older boys or men.
Circumcision is widely performed in Malaysia by specialised doctors and medical professionals, including paediatric surgeons. Research has found that circumcision has various medical benefits, such as reducing the risk of urinary tract infections (UTI), sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and rare penile cancer. It is also more hygienic, as it makes the penis simpler to wash, due to the absence of the foreskin. Circumcision also helps prevent penile problems.
To do or not to do?
This is still widely a matter of personal choice. Aside from religious or cultural requirements, some people might opt for circumcision due to personal hygiene reasons, or as a form of preventive healthcare. Alternatively, some may take the view that this procedure is unnecessary, as long as proper care of the penis is maintained to reduce health risks.
There are also situations in which it might not be medically safe to undergo a circumcision. For example, this could be due to a blood-clotting disorder, abnormality in the penis, or a baby being born prematurely (for parents who might be considering circumcision for their newborns). There are also various methods of circumcision, which would be dependent on a person’s age. In general however, it is a fairly straightforward procedure that takes less than an hour. Healing in newborns, babies and children usually takes 2 to 4 weeks.
Since circumcision is a common practice in Malaysia, the good news is that parents are blessed with plenty of options and resources to turn to. For the benefit of our #makchicmumsquad, we spoke to several mothers who shared about their different decisions regarding circumcision and the wellbeing of their beloved boys:
Circumcision at 2 months old during a hernia correction
Fatin, a mum of two boys, discovered that her 2-month-old baby’s groin hardened every time he cried. The paediatrician diagnosed him with bilateral inguinal hernia, a relatively common condition among newborn boys.
To correct this, the doctor recommended surgery and also offered a complimentary procedure to circumcise her baby. Fatin and her husband decided to go ahead with the circumcision process, since it was a religious requirement and they were confident that circumcising at an early age would provide faster healing and would be perfectly safe for their baby.
“I did a lot of reading about circumcision before my pregnancy. In Malaysia, it is customary for Muslim children to be circumcised during school age, but we decided to circumcise our baby as a newborn,” she shared. “He went through a non-invasive keyhole surgery and a suture-less circumcision technique. The healing took around 7 to 10 days, with almost no bleeding, and I was able to shower him every day and go without daily dressing.”
Fatin advises parents to read about the techniques for circumcision and to always seek professional advice before making a decision. “Choose a doctor you are confident with, and be prepared financially as neonatal circumcision can be more expensive,” she added. Her baby is now a happy and healthy 2-year-old.
It’s simply not necessary
Sherene is a mum to three boys, who are now in their teens and young adulthood. There was no religious or cultural requirement for her family, but she consulted with their paediatrician regarding circumcision. “The doctor examined my baby and advised that it was unnecessary,” she said. Sherene recommends talking to a trusted paediatrician before making any decisions.
For easy management, hygiene and preventive healthcare
Emma and her husband do not have any religious obligations for circumcision, but decided to circumcise their baby (now 7 years old), on the second day after he was born. It was a short 10-minute procedure and the wound healed after 2 to 3 days.
“The main reason was to prevent possible pain and discomfort, due to issues with his foreskin. My husband and a few friends had similar experiences during their teenage years, whereby they eventually had to be circumcised,” said Emma. She added, “We also felt that it was ideal to do this early, as it will not be as traumatic compared to when they are older, where the wound would also be harder to manage.”
Emma strongly advises parents to discuss the decision with their paediatrician and take some time to understand the procedures involved.
Another mum, PC, also does not have any cultural obligations, but nevertheless decided to circumcise her now 7-year-old son when he was a newborn. Based on family experience, it was simply for hygienic purposes and easier management for her boy, as he got older.
“It was a quick decision; we decided to go for circumcision on the day he was born,” said PC. “It healed together with the umbilical cord, which took around 5 to 7 days,” she shared. PC describes it as a minor procedure with considerably short downtime, and she similarly recommends that parents conduct their research on the techniques available and consider various references before making a decision.
Choosing to wait until the child is older
Dayanna, a mother of four, decided to circumcise her eldest son at 8 years of age, which is the norm and tradition of a Malay family. “I didn’t have anyone to talk to at that point, so after doing my own reading, a week after he was born, my husband and I decided that we would just follow the norm,” she said.
One day, the lovable Malaysian series, Upin & Ipin, managed to convince her son that the process was painless and short. “But he was taken aback when we were finally at the doctor. Long story short, there was a little drama, but in the end, everything turned out fine,” said Dayanna. Her son healed completely within a week. Dayanna believes that doing it in the kampung with his male cousins helped to make the healing process easier.
Dayanna advises parents to consider circumcision early, as it is easier to manage. “For Muslims, doing it early is apparently also part of the sunnah,” she said. “However, if you decide to do it when your child is older, spend time to talk about it with him. Try your best to address all his questions, so that he will be calm and at ease when the big day comes,” she added.
Considering circumcision for your family?
Here are several medical providers specialising in circumcision within the Klang Valley:
- Dr Abduk Razak Mohammed, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon, KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital
- Dr Syariz Izry Sehat, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon, Avisena Women’s and Children’s Specialist Hospital
- Dr Zain Al-Rashid, General Surgeon, Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur
- Klinik Tuah, Cheras
Regardless of your decision, your child’s well-being always comes first. Circumcision remains a matter of family or personal choice and we hope that this article will be helpful for parents who are seeking some insight into the process.
Here’s to healthy and happy boys, #makchicmumsquad!
