MYTH: Almost all men are circumcised
FACT: Not so much. Globally, fewer than a third of all men are circumcised [World Health Organization, 2008].. And in the USA, fewer than half of all boys born in conventional hospitals from 2006-2009 were circumcised.
MYTH: Circumcision is recommended by doctors and medical associations
FACT: In 1999, the American Academy of Pediatrics concluded that infant circumcision is not recommended as a routine procedure. The American Medical Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians agree.
MYTH: It's just a bit of skin; he won't miss it
FACT: The prepuce (foreskin) contains about 10,000 super-specialized nerve endings and a few feet of blood vessels. It's important for sex, but it also protects the penis. Trust us, he'll miss it.
MYTH: It's easier to take care of a circumcised penis
FACT: All you have to do with a child's intact penis is leave it alone. As the boy reaches puberty, he'll be able to retract his foreskin and rinse it as necessary. Not a big deal.
MYTH: Circumcision prevents urinary tract infections
FACT: The studies linking circumcision to lower risk of UTIs are flawed.
MYTH: Circumcision prevents penile cancer
FACT: In a letter to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Cancer Society stated that it "does not consider routine circumcision to be a valid or effective measure to prevent [penile or cervical] cancers. ...Penile cancer rates in countries which do not practice circumcision are lower than those found in the U.S."
MYTH: Intact kids will get teased in the locker room
FACT: These days nearly 50% of boys nationwide are left intact - so the circumcised boys may be just as likely to get teased.
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