Ciurcumcision is often performed in healthy boys for cultural or
religious reasons. In the United States, a newborn boy is
usually circumcised before he leaves the hospital. Jewish boys,
however, are circumcised when they are 8 days old. In other
parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, and South and
Central America, circumcision is rare in the general population.
The merits of circumcision have been debated. Opinions about the
need for circumcision in healthy boys vary among health care
providers. Some believe there is great value to having an intact
foreskin, such as allowing for a more natural sexual response
during adulthood. Rather than routinely recommending
circumcision for healthy boys, many health care providers allow
the parents to make the decision after presenting them with the
pros and cons. There is no compelling medical rationale for the
procedure in healthy boys, although some boys have a medical
condition requiring circumcision. In 1999 the American Academy
of Pediatrics revised their poli