Broken Skin - Gaps In The Record On Complications Of Male Circumcision

Often not recognised by the operator or parents, this requires extensive surgical intervention at a later date. In 1970 an Australian study reported a re-operation rate of 8.5% for hospital circumcisions on infants and boys, yet the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report that current data systems do not identify adverse events or further procedures which may be associated with circumcision. Australian and other surveys report adult dissatisfaction with neonatal circumcision for the man and his female partner (Bensley & Boyle, 2003), and that circumcised men had shorter erect penises than uncircumcised men (Richters et al 1995). This data may be explained by a susceptibility of the infant and childhood prepuce to excessive skin removal during circumcision. The longitudinal effects of this complication on penile development and sexual function are illustrated with three cases of reconstructive surgery to release erectile tethering and pain in adults after excessive skin removal by neonatal circumcision. More detailed studies are needed to investigate the prevalence of these and other long term complications of circumcision in Australia and also adult dissatisfaction with the results of the procedure in general. A possible model for these may be the World Health Organisation studies into the harm of female genital mutilation.