The cost of a private circumcision in Australia typically ranges from approximately $419 to over $1000 for infants and can exceed $2700 for adults, with final costs depending heavily on age, clinic, location, and Medicare eligibility.
It is covered by Medicare
If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you may be able to claim a rebate on your procedure. The rebate for an adult circumcision procedure with a dorsal penile nerve block isis $226, lowering the out-of-pocket costs you'll have to pay.
Yes, Medicare in Australia covers part of the cost for circumcision, especially for infants and when there's a medical necessity, but coverage varies significantly by patient's age and specific circumstances, with adult circumcisions often only covered if medically indicated, not for routine or cosmetic reasons. Expect a Medicare rebate, but you'll still pay out-of-pocket for the rest, and you can check the MBS Online or your provider for exact figures.
To get this type of circumcision on the NHS, see your GP who will make a referral to a local hospital urology service. There is usually a delay to see the urologist for non-urgent referrals.
Among our patients, when asked about pain during circumcision performed under local anesthesia on a scale 1-10 with 1 being no pain, and 10 being the worst pain of your life, more than 90% of patients rate pain as 2-3. Most patients do not take prescribed pain medications or any other pain medications.
The NHS only funds therapeutic circumcisions. This means there must be a medical need to qualify such as foreskin problems. The NHS does not fund non-therapeutic circumcisions which are carried out for religious or cultural reasons.
The cost of circumcising a newborn starts at $600. The price increases with age, with higher fees for babies over 4 weeks old. Our clinic offers virtually painless Pollock Technique™ circumcision for babies up to 4 months, boys over 6 years old, teens, and adult men.
Current Adult Circumcision Fees
The current fee for first-time circumcisions and revisions is $3200.
Medical reasons for men to have a circumcision
In addition to personal, cultural, and religious aspects associated with the decision, you may have medical questions as well. Circumcision can be done at any age. Traditionally, the most common time to do it is soon after your baby is born, or within the first month of life.
Medical male circumcision can cost anywhere between R1000 and R4000 in the private sector.
Shaving: You do not need to shave or trim your pubic hair before the operation. Day case: Most circumcisions are performed as day cases, meaning you will not stay overnight. Anaesthetic: Most are done under local anaesthetic (penile block), which numbs the penis but keeps you awake.
You can get circumcised at any age. But most circumcisions occur within the first week after birth — usually within the first 48 hours — in a hospital.
However, most medical bodies in developed countries, including in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, take the opposite view. They do not recommend circumcision because they believe that the potential benefits of the procedure are outweighed by the associated risks.
Adult circumcision is more costly because it involves a more complex procedure, anesthesia, additional care, and extended healing support. That said, pricing at any circumcision clinic can vary depending on several factors: The location of the clinic. The experience of the doctor.
Adult Circumcision Pros
Reduces the chances of developing urinary tract infections. It does so by lowering the risk of penis foreskin bacteria from being transferred during sexual intercourse back into the urinary tract. Reduces the risk of HIV transmission.
Getting Circumcised at Your Age
There are a number of reasons why men may choose to get circumcised at an adult age. Some require circumcision as a cure for conditions like phimosis (an overly tight foreskin) while others choose circumcision for cosmetic and personal reasons.
Adult circumcision is often a simple procedure, though it's a larger surgery than it is in infants. People who choose to have it done may do so for many of the same reasons parents choose it for their newborns — medical, religious, or social.
Australia has seen a decrease in circumcision rates over the last 70 years or so. Back in the 1950s, roughly 80 per cent of Australian men and boys were circumcised. That rate has steadily decreased and now, around 20 per cent of Australian newborns are circumcised.
Common complications of circumcision include hemorrhage (35%), wound infection (10%), meatitis (8-20%), and UTI (2%) respectively.
Yes, Medicare in Australia covers part of the cost for circumcision, especially for infants and when there's a medical necessity, but coverage varies significantly by patient's age and specific circumstances, with adult circumcisions often only covered if medically indicated, not for routine or cosmetic reasons. Expect a Medicare rebate, but you'll still pay out-of-pocket for the rest, and you can check the MBS Online or your provider for exact figures.
Adult Circumcision Recovery: General Wellness
DO NOT drink alcohol for one week following your surgery. DO NOT smoke for one month following your surgery.
Conclusions: Pain is mild to moderate after circumcision in adults under general anesthesia with an intraoperative penile block. Severe pain is rare and mostly related to complications. Younger patients generally have more discomfort.