Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A 'Snip' In Time: What Is The Best Age To Circumcise?, Brian J. Morris, Jake H. Waskett, Joya Banerjee, Richard G. Wamai, Aaron A. R. Tobian, Ronald H. Gray, Stefan A. Bailis, Robert C. Bailey, Jeffrey D. Klausner, Robin J. Willcourt, Daniel T. Halperin, Thomas E. Wiswell, Adrian Mindel

Richard G. Wamai

Background Circumcision is a common procedure, but regional and societal attitudes differ on whether there is a need for a male to be circumcised and, if so, at what age. This is an important issue for many parents, but also pediatricians, other doctors, policy makers, public health authorities, medical bodies, and males themselves. Discussion We show here that infancy is an optimal time for clinical circumcision because an infant's low mobility facilitates the use of local anesthesia, sutures are not required, healing is quick, cosmetic outcome is usually excellent, costs are minimal, and complications are uncommon. The benefits of infant …