Should adults be circumcised?

The article was professionally consulted by MSc Vo Thien Ngon - Urologist, Vinmec International Hospital Da Nang.

Circumcision should only be done when it directly affects the quality of life. Cases of narrow or long foreskin should be examined and treated promptly. Because otherwise, it will cause dangerous complications including penile cancer.

Foreskin stenosis is the leading cause of penile cancer in adults. When the foreskin is narrow or the foreskin is long, urine is often left inside the skin covering, depositing deposits, making it difficult to maintain personal hygiene. Over time, the disease can cause inflammation of the foreskin that affects health as well as the quality of sex life.
Wives of narrow foreskin are also susceptible to gynecological inflammatory diseases, in which the danger is cervical cancer. In the case of moderate narrow foreskin, when erect, it will cause strangulation of the glans, causing the penis to swell, requiring emergency treatment. Conversely, if the foreskin shows no signs of affecting health and sexual activity, you may not need surgery. It is important to always pay attention to cleanliness. It is for these reasons that adults should be examined and consulted for circumcision as soon as possible to avoid serious health consequences.
In case you need to get circumcised, you can go to Vinmec International General Hospital. At Vinmec hospital, gather a team of experienced doctors in the field of surgery. With a system of modern equipment, the hospital is ready to fully meet the needs of surgery from simple to complex. The quality of the surgery will be best guaranteed, saving time, enhancing patient safety, especially preventing infection, helping patients recover faster.

Circumcision surgery helps to keep the genitals clean, limiting the risk of penile infection. However, depending on the skill and experience of the surgeon, failure to meet the requirements can lead to decreased pleasure during sex. Because that layer of skin that has been removed is sometimes linked to some pleasure nerves.
In addition, as with any other surgery, circumcision can also pose risks but only insignificantly including:
Painful sensations. Bleeding and infection. Irritated foreskin. Inflammation of the lining of the penis. There is a risk of injury to the penis.

Circumcision is a minor surgery that is not too complicated, the patient does not need to be hospitalized after treatment. The total time from examination, testing to surgery and treatment is only a few hours. After minor surgery, the patient is prescribed medication and can be discharged immediately. Patients should change bandages at medical facilities about 5 days. The wound does not need to be sutured and heals completely in about 2 weeks.

After circumcision from 2 to 3 weeks, all activities can return to normal. However, this is a private, sensitive area, the tissues under the skin are loose, so having sex can make the penis hurt. Especially when the penis is stimulated and erect, the wound will easily crack, causing bleeding and inflammation, edema, and slow healing. Therefore, circumcised people should need a little more time to ensure safety, about 1 month after surgery, they can have sex. However, to be sure, the patient should follow up with the appointment and follow the doctor's instructions before making a decision.
Decreased pleasure in sex can also occur due to the loss of some of the nerves that stimulate pleasure after surgery. In fact, the effects of circumcision on sexual desire and health are still being studied.

Patients should choose suitable underwear, preferably loose and airy to minimize friction to avoid injuring the tip of the penis.
Clean the foreskin daily according to the doctor's instructions. Limit wetting the wound area, especially when urinating, by having absorbent paper ready. When bathing, you can avoid wetting the dressing by wearing a condom.
Do not use stimulants such as alcohol, beer, tobacco, carbonated drinks, alcoholic beverages... because they slow down the wound healing process.