About 20-30% of Australian males are circumcised, though rates vary by age, with current newborns having much lower rates (around 15-20%) than older generations, reflecting a significant drop from the mid-20th century when it was routine (around 80%). The procedure is now less common, largely due to evolving medical guidance and shifting social views, though it remains a cultural or religious practice for some communities.
Newborn Circumcision Rates
Today, around 1 in 5 newborn boys in Australia, approximately 20%, undergo circumcision. This marks a significant shift from the mid-20th century when the procedure was far more routine. The decline is largely due to updated medical recommendations and changing social attitudes.
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.
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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).
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.
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.
In Australia, current health advice only supports routine circumcision for medical reasons.
However, a new study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reveals that neonatal male circumcision (NMC) rates in the United States declined nearly 5% in the 10 years following the American Academy of Pediatrics statement in favor of the practice.
During the 2000s, the prevalence of circumcision in men aged 14–59 differed by race: 91 percent of non-Hispanic white men, 76 percent of black men, and 44 percent of Hispanic men (of any race) were circumcised, according to Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
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.
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.
Common complications of circumcision include hemorrhage (35%), wound infection (10%), meatitis (8-20%), and UTI (2%) respectively.
Circumcision stopped when Christianity was adopted by the Romans, the key biblical text being St. Paul's letter (or epistle) to the Galatians in which he argues that Jesus' coming means that people should now receive salvation by faith and not by law.
Transactions of the American Medical Association. 1870;21:205–11). Since that time, doctors have embraced circumcision for many reasons, citing research that suggests it can reduce rates of sexually transmitted diseases, penile cancer, urinary tract infections and slow the transmission of HIV.
In a number of Western countries such as the United States of America and Australia, the practice of male circumcision for non-religious reasons became prevalent by the beginning of the twentieth century. During the First World War circumcision was promoted for hygiene reasons and for prevention of venereal diseases.
How common is circumcision? Circumcision is the most common surgery among males. Over 70% of males in the United States are circumcised. Throughout the rest of the world, the circumcision rate is about 33%.
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.
Traditionally, Zoroastrians do not practice circumcision. Circumcision is not required in Yazidism, but is practised by some Yazidis due to regional customs. Circumcision is forbidden in Mandaeism, and the sign of the Jews given to Abraham by God, circumcision, is considered abhorrent.
Male circumcision is one of the most common procedures in the world. Approximately 40% of the worldwide male population is circumcised, and the prevalence is even higher among male children born in the United States [1,2].
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).
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.
The possible medical benefits of circumcision include: A lower risk of HIV and some other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). A slightly lower risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) during the first year of life and penile cancer later in life. However, these conditions are rare in all males (circumcised or not).
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.
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.