Circumcision
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Circumcision is the removal of some or all of the foreskin (prepuce) from the penis. The word “circumcision” comes from Latin circum (meaning “around”) and cædere (meaning “to cut”). The earliest pictures are from cave drawings of Ancient Egyptian tombs, though some pictures may be open to interpretation. Male circumcision is a religious commandment in Judaism as well as in Islam, and customary in some Oriental Orthodox and other Christian churches in Africa. Circumcision is most common in the Middle East, the USA and parts of Africa and Asia. According to WHO 30% of men worldwide have had the procedure, mostly in developing countries where it is common for religious or cultural reasons. Opponents of circumcision condemn infant circumcision as being medically unjustified and an infringement upon individual bodily rights, while advocates of circumcision regard it as a worthwhile public health measure, particularly in the control of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa. In March 2007 the World Health Organization and UNAIDS recognized male circumcision as an effective intervention for HIV prevention, but warned that male circumcision only provides partial protection and should not replace other interventions to prevent the heterosexual transmission of HIV. Circumcision may also be used to treat inflammation of the glans and penile cancer. Using circumcision to treat phimosis (see section below) is debated in medical literature |
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