Circumcision is a common, minor surgical procedure that occurs about 1.2 million times per year throughout the United States.  The same procedure (including sterilized equipment) that occurs at the hospital and the doctor's office will occur at your home.  I use only sterilized equipment, and examine the baby prior to the Bris to ensure that there is no anatomical variation which may require a delay to the circumcision.  Please note, this is not a substitution for an examination by your pediatrician.  I do recommend that your baby receive a checkup from his doctor when he is born and that you make sure from your pediatrician that the baby is healthy enough to undergo a circumcision.

In addition to the religious significance, there are some medical benefits.  These include a reduction in urinary tract infections (on the order of 3 to 10 times less frequent than in boys who are not circumcised) and an almost complete elimination of penile cancer.  Sexually transmitted diseases appear less likely to be transmitted if you are circumcised (including AIDS).  There is no evidence that circumcision affects sexual function or the ability to feel pleasure.  In fact, a survey of adult males suggested less sexual dysfunction in circumcised adult men.

As with any medical procedure, it is important to know about the risks.  These include bleeding, infection and a poor cosmetic result.  Fortunately, these occur at a rate of approximately 0.2%, and most of these are minor bleeding.  More serious complications are extremely rare and are usually related to faulty technique or unsafe circumstances for the procedure.

The pain of circumcision can be significantly reduced.  I like to use a combination of three separate methods for pain relief.  First, I have the parents give one dropper (0.8 ml) of Tylenol to the baby about half an hour before the Bris.  Second, I inject lidocaine anesthetic to the penis fifteen minutes before the Bris.  Finally, I give the baby gauze saturated with sugar and kosher grape wine.  Even with the pain control, the baby may cry during the Bris and be fussy afterwards due to all the activity during the ceremony.  A quiet room for the parents to feed or nurse the baby immediately after the ceremony will greatly help him feel better after the ceremony.

Please feel free to ask me any further questions regarding the benefits and risks of circumcision.  More detailed discussion of the benefits and risks of circumcision may be found at Pediatrics Volume 103, No. 3 March 1999, p.686-693 (American Academy of Pediatrics: Circumcision Policy Statement) and Pediatrics Volume 105, No. 3 March 2000, p.620-623 (Further review of the Circumcision Policy Statement).

After you have had a chance to have all your questions answered, I will have you fill out a routine medical consent form prior to the Bris.