I’m unable to make judgements on religion, politics or culture on this forum.
However, male circumcision ( what some may call male genital mutilation ) does have medical implications.
• In adults it reduces the risk of male HETEROSEXUAL HIV infection ( by at least half ), genital herpes and oncogenic ( cancer causing ) human papilloma virus (each by about a third ). Female partners of circumcised men appear to have reduced risk of sexually transmitted infections such as human papilloma virus and trichomoniasis.
• Neonatal male circumcision protects from infant urinary tract infections, and infections related to the penis. It’s a simple procedure with complication rate less than 1% ; if delayed to age 18 or more the complication rate is increased, and many will have had sex by that age. Parents already make informed consent to other preventive procedures such as vaccination – not completely without risk.
• Sexual dysfunction is not usually an issue with circumcised males and their female partners.
Female circumcision ( also called female genital mutilation ) is vastly different. It’s widespread in Africa and also immigrant communities in Europe and North America. It has SEVERE medical, psychological and psychosexual consequences. Young girls may die, for example, from infections such as tetanus, or haemorrhage. Reconstructive surgery can improve their lives but women rarely have access to this.
