A helpful guide to circumcision

To circumcise or not to circumcise? That's the decision parents of newborn boys must make. Here are a few things to remember when considering whether or not to circumcise your child:

Boys who are circumcised are less likely to contract sexually transmitted diseases when they grow up.

• During the first year of life, uncircumcised boys have 10 to 20 times as many urinary tract infections as circumcised boys do.
• The health-related perks of this procedure extend well into adulthood. Studies show that uncircumcised men are nearly three times more likely to get human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer in women
• Uncircumcised men are also more than twice as prone to acquiring HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, compared to circumcised men.
• Foreskin contains a higher density of Langerhans cells, which HIV cells latch onto, than the surface of the penis. Researchers think the smaller number of infection-prone cells in circumcised men also lowers the risk of sexually transmitted diseases.
• New Zealand researchers followed 510 men for 25 years and found that circumcision reduced the risk of STDs like syphilis, canchroid and herpes by up to one-half.

Another reason to consider the procedure: it also protects women.

• An international study from five different countries found that chlamydia is three times more common in women whose partners are uncircumcised than in the partners of circumcised men.
• Once again, uncircumcised men are much more likely to contract HPV, which can cause cervical cancer in women. Other studies suggest male circumcision could markedly reduce the number of women who contract cervical cancer.

Some religions call for the procedure, and up to 85 percent of men in the United States are circumcized. However, the reasons for circumcision extend beyond religion or aesthetics. Studies show it protects against penile cancer and sexually transmitted diseases. It's a personal decision, but there are also some medical reasons to consider it.