Do men have to be circumcised?

It is not compulsory for men to be circumcised. Whether to undergo surgery depends on whether excessive foreskin or phimosis causes health problems. The main indications for circumcision include recurrent infections, difficulty urinating, inability to turn up the phimosis, affecting the quality of sexual life, and other urinary system diseases.

When the foreskin is too long but can be turned up naturally without any discomfort, surgery is usually not required. Pay attention to daily cleaning to prevent infection. When cleaning, gently turn the foreskin to remove dirt, and avoid using irritating lotions. If there is mild inflammation, you can use topical medications such as erythromycin ointment or mupirocin ointment as directed by your doctor. However, if the foreskin causes recurrent balanitis, urinary tract infections, or smegma accumulation, the need for surgery needs to be evaluated.

When phimosis or a narrow foreskin opening cannot be turned upward, surgical intervention may be required. This kind of situation can easily cause foreskin incarceration, causing swelling and pain of the glans, and even affecting blood flow. Most physiological phimosis in childhood can be relieved with age, but if it still cannot be turned up in adulthood, surgery is recommended. Patients with underlying diseases such as diabetes and low immunity may consider surgery earlier due to a higher risk of infection. In addition, when foreskin is accompanied by diseases such as genital warts and precancerous lesions of the penis, surgery can be part of the treatment.

After surgery, you need to keep the wound dry, avoid strenuous exercise, and wear loose clothing to reduce friction to promote healing. You should eat a light diet, consume more high-quality protein such as fish and eggs, and supplement with appropriate amounts of vitamin C to promote tissue repair. Sexual intercourse is prohibited within 1 month after surgery, and recovery is reviewed regularly to assess recovery. If there are no clear indications for surgery, daily care and regular physical examinations are more important than blind surgery.