No, routine circumcision for all male infants is not recommended in Australia by major medical bodies like the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP). While there are potential health benefits (like reduced UTI/STI risk) and parents can choose it for cultural/religious reasons, most Australian medical consensus suggests these benefits don't outweigh the risks and ethical concerns for non-medical procedures, though parents have the right to make their own informed choice.
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.
About 1 in 7 newborns in Australia undergo circumcision. Male circumcision may be performed for: health and hygiene reasons. religious and cultural reasons.
In response to the evidence, the World Health Organization (2007), the American Academy of Pediatrics (2012) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018) have all recommended that male babies be circumcised for lifelong health benefits.
Credible research shows that most women prefer the appearance of the circumcised penis. They also prefer it for sexual activity. Hygiene is one reason; increased contact of the penis with the vaginal wall, and thus greater stimulation, are others.
Medical reasons to not circumcise
Like the benefits, the risks are small but worth considering carefully. Complications from circumcision surgery are rare, but like all surgeries, there are some risks—including bleeding, infection and injury to the penis or urethra.
Neonatal male circumcision in the U.S. has declined over the past decade. From 2012 to 2022, the overall prevalence of hospitalizations with a circumcision decreased significantly from 54.1% to 49.3%. Circumcision has fielded criticism and ethical considerations despite potential health benefits.
In New Zealand and Australia at the present time, newborn and infant male circumcision is legal and generally considered an ethical procedure, if performed with informed parental consent and by a competent practitioner with provision of adequate analgesia.
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.
Common complications of circumcision include hemorrhage (35%), wound infection (10%), meatitis (8-20%), and UTI (2%) respectively.
More information about sexual health
The estimate indicates that circumcision is higher among countries where the Muslim or Jewish faith are commonplace, such as Iran (100 per cent), Iraq (99 per cent), West Bank (99 per cent), Yemen (99 per cent), Indonesia (93 per cent), Syria (93 per cent), and Israel (92 per cent).
Eventually, the foreskin should be retracted far enough during urination to see the meatus (the hole where the urine comes from). This prevents urine from building up beneath the foreskin and possibly causing an infection. As long as the foreskin doesn't easily retract, only the outside needs to be cleaned.
NMC can also remove the loose flap of skin that covers and protects the rounded top part of the penis that contains nerves, blood vessels, and a tiny part of muscle, which can lead to shorter penile length.
Females who have uncircumcised male partners are at an increased risk of getting infections such as Bacterial Vaginosis. Men who are circumcised may also be likely to pass infections they have, such as yeast infections, UTIs, and STDs, but comparing the two, the risk is a lot higher if the male is uncircumcised.
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. This is largely due to developments in modern medicine.
(...) However, if the circumcision of a child is not medically indicated, but is only the result of the beliefs of its parents (religious or otherwise), such an intervention has no legal basis.
Yes, Medicare (Australia's public health system) generally provides rebates for circumcision, especially for infants and when medically indicated for older individuals, though coverage varies by age and clinical need, with higher rebates often available for infants and medically necessary procedures. You can receive rebates for circumcision procedures listed under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), but expect out-of-pocket costs depending on the provider and if the procedure isn't deemed medically essential, particularly for adults.
In Japan, routine male circumcision has never been implemented for newborns and children, and adult males are mostly circumcised at aesthetic clinics. However, media reports indicate a trend of Japanese mothers willing to have their sons circumcised.
Christianity and circumcision
In the Old Testament circumcision is clearly defined as a covenant between God and all Jewish males. Circumcision is not laid down as a requirement in the New Testament. Instead, Christians are urged to be "circumcised of the heart" by trusting in Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross.
In the present physician survey, the most common reasons neonatal circumcision was not offered included the institution was not a birth hospital, the procedure was not covered by insurance, and low insurance reimbursement.
For those circumcised (n = 91), the median regret score was 0 (IQR 0–25). For those uncircumcised (n = 28), median regret score was 0 (IQR 0–24). Overall, 55% of both groups reported no regret (DRS = 0), 24% had low-mild regret (DRS 5–25), and 21% yielded moderate-strong regret (DRS 30–100).
Medical Reasons Parents Might Choose Not to Circumcise
Risks of circumcision surgery, although rare, include bleeding, infection and injury to the penis or urethra. The foreskin protects the tip of the penis.
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.
Around ages 1 to 3 years, your child's healthcare professional may tell you that it's OK to clean underneath the foreskin. Follow these steps if your child's foreskin has started to retract: Gently pull back the loose part of the foreskin. Stop right away if pulling seems to cause pain or makes your child cry.