Tessa Oughton

GPST3
 Can I be referred for my baby to be
circumcised?
 First words a baby should here - Muslim call
to prayer(Adhaan)
First thing a baby tastes;
Date juice/honey rubbed into gums
After 7th day;
Head is shaved
The baby is named
Aqueeqa sacrifice of a sheep.
Circumcision 7 days until puberty
 Birth
Jatakarma putting some honey in the mouth
Whispering the name of God in the childs ear
Head shaved
Namakarana naming ceremony
3-5 years
Ear piercing
 Circumcision (Brit Milah)
Traditionally on day 8, performed in the
Synagogue
Male babies are named at the time of their
circumcision
Female babies are named at the first public
reading of the Torah at the Synagogue
 Baptism
 WHO: ~30% of males over the age of 15 are
circumcised worldwide (69% of which are
Muslim)
Non-religious circumcision
US 75%
UK 6%
 Indications;
Religious/cultural
Proposed health benefits
Social
Medical;
Phimosis (90%)
Paraphimosis
balanitis xerotica obliterans
Recurrent balanitis
(Hypospadias)
 Proposed medical benefits;
Reduction in STIs including HIV*, genital herpes,
genital warts, syphilis, chancroid
Reduction in penile cancer
Reduced UTIs
Reduced risk of BV & Trichomoniasis in women
Reduced risk of cervical cancer in women (due to
reduction in HPV in men)
 Complications
Bleeding/Haematoma
Pain
Infection
Swelling
Removal of insufficient or excess tissue
Decrease in sensation during intercourse
Urethral stricture
Psychosocial problems
Accidental amputation of the head of the penis (very
rare)!
 NHS Choices; It is important to note that
some CCGs in England do currently fund
religious or ritual circumcision on the
NHS. The decision is based on priorities that
relate to its own local population
 Where?
Bradford road, Fartown
Brikby Health Centre
Clarendon medical centre, Bradford
BMI/Spire
Leeds childrens circumcision centre
Some UK CCGs do offer funding
The Wirral
 Allowing male genital mutilation is a
discrimination between the sexes
An abuse of the rights of the child
The unpalatable truth is that logic and the
rights of the child play little part in
determining the acceptability of male genital
mutilation in our society. The profession
needs to recognise this and champion the
argument on behalf of boys that was so
successful for girls
 Malecircumcision is generally assumed to be
lawful provided that:
it is performed competently
it is believed to be in the childs best interests
there is valid consent (both parents)*
 Widely practiced procedure
Possible health benefits
Increasingly common in the UK due to
increasing cultural diversity
Widely available safely in the UK for
relatively low cost
On going unregulated practice worldwide
with associated increased complication risk
 http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2007/9789241596169
_eng.pdf?ua=1
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/islamethics/
malecircumcision.shtml
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Circumcision/Pages/Introducti
on.aspx
http://www.bmj.com/content/335/7631/1206
http://www.bmj.com/content/335/7631/1181
http://jme.bmj.com/content/30/3/259.full#ref-4
http://www.gmsafeguardingchildren.co.uk/417626/gmcircum
cisionleaflet