The doctors at San Fernando Valley Urological Associates and the American Urological Association, Inc.® (AUA) believe that circumcision, removal of the foreskin of the penis, performed on a newborn (neonatal) has many potential medical benefits and advantages, as well as some disadvantages and risks. Recent data indicates that circumcision may aid in the prevention of HIV and other STDs.
Neonatal circumcision is generally a rapid and safe procedure when performed by an experienced physician. There are immediate risks to circumcision such as bleeding, infection and penile injury, as well as complications recognized later that may include buried penis, meatal stenosis, skin bridges, chordee and poor cosmetic appearance. Some of these complications might require surgical correction. Nevertheless, when performed on healthy newborn infants as an elective procedure, the incidence of serious complications is extremely low. The minor complications are reported to be three percent.