Aids HIV FAQ

Circumcision in Australia

Question:

Thanks for the info it has confused us even more *sigh* what to do, what to do…. Jules

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Does anyone know where I can find *current* statistics on infant male > circumcision in Australia?? > Thanks > Who knows? > But this may help. > The Sun-Herald, April 25, 1999 >      BABIES AT THE CUTTING EDGE >      Circumcision of male infants is making a comeback >      reports Martin Chulov > After years of declining rates in Australia and opposition to the > procedure from doctors, a growing number of parents are asking > for their baby boys to be circumcised. And, for the first time, the > Royal Australian College of Surgeons has formed a policy > position – it does not oppose the procedure. [Note: The name is actually > the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons] > Thirty years ago more than 60 per cent of Australian males were > routinely circumcised; that figure has fallen dramatically to less > than 10 per cent of male babies born. However, hospitals have reported a > recent surge in requests for the procedure, which is > typically performed when baby boys are about seven days old. A report > released recently showed that pediatricians were > receiving requests from parents to circumcise up to 20 per cent of > newborn boys. > The College of Surgeons said performing the procedure was at the > discretion of parents and could be performed for religious, > cultural, medical or social reasons. It said it should be performed only > by "a competent operator… under sterile conditions > designed to minimise hazards… using appropriate anaesthetic". > The procedure is leading to widespread division among GPs and medical > lobby groups with the Australian College of Pediatrics > saying circumcision should not be performed until babies are at least > six months. It said "neonatal male circumcision has no > medical indication. It is a traumatic procedure performed without > anaesthesia to remove a normal functional and protective > prepuce". > The Australian Medical Association (AMA) opposes routine circumcision > and will only endorse it on "therapeutic grounds". > AMA NSW president Peter Thursby said: "And then we would need to be > convinced of the reasons for exposing > seven-day-old infants to this." Dr Thursby said Australians’ access to > hygiene reduced the risks of penile cancers or diseases > which were associated with non-circumcised men in some first and second > world countries (sic). "Penile carcinoma rates have > fallen dramatically in Australia over the past 50 years and are > continuing to do so", Dr Thursby said. > But Professor Brian Morris fron the University of Sydney’s Physiology > Department claims, in a new book, that "there are > benefits to be had from the procedure at any age". Dr Morris says lack > of circumcision is responsible for increasing the rates of > urinary tract infection by up to 12 times and offers increased exposure > to penile cancers. He also says it increases the risk of > acquiring the HIV virus and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Response:

> Thanks for the info it has confused us even more

Not surprising > *sigh* what to do, what to do….

Circumcision has been heading for extinction in Australia for nearly 20 years – in spite of the efforts of certain pro-circumcision fanatics (like Dr Brian Morris, the guy referred to in the article provided by Wadi). Morris has been trying to bump up the circumcision rates for years – but his "research" is regarded as a sick joke by people who know anything about the issue. Bottom line, IMO. If in doubt, don’t do it. There is no compelling medical reason to do it. It’s mostly a cultural relic in Australia these days. There’s nothing wrong with letting a male decide for himself if he wants to be circumcised. Most don’t. But if they want it they can have it. It doesn’t quite work the other way. — Sean Quinn. Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

>Circumcision has been heading for extinction in Australia for nearly 20 >years

Can you please clarify your definition of extinction? It appears the dinosaur went out quicker than circumcision in Australia? >(like Dr Brian Morris, the guy referred to in the article provided by >Wadi). Morris has been trying to bump up the circumcision rates for >years – but his "research" is regarded as a sick joke by people who >know anything about the issue.

So this DR Morris has been sanctioned than? This DR Morris has lost his accreditation? There is a major foreskin fanatic MD in the USA a certain MD Fliess ever heard of him? Seems he plead guilty to tax evasion, and excepting illegal proceeds to money launder for his daughter Hollywood madam Hieddi Fliess. I imagine this places him as at the top of the anti-circumcision cause? >Bottom line, IMO. If in doubt, don’t do it. There is no compelling >medical reason to do it. It’s mostly a cultural relic in Australia >these days.

If circumcisions were performed routinely in infancy in Australia I would agree there would be no major medical reason for doing them. However since in Australia’s case they are probably mostly performed either in childhood or early adulthood, these circumcisions are at least partly due to phimosis.

Response:

Does anyone know where I can find *current* statistics on infant male circumcision in Australia?? Thanks

Response:

Don’t know about statistics but I had two boys in Aust (5years old and three years old) and neither was circumcised as it wasn;t the norm amongts their peers. None of the children in their playgroups or any of our friends children are circumcised although nearly all of the fathers are. Amanda – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Does anyone know where I can find *current* statistics on infant male > circumcision in Australia?? > Thanks

Response:

>Does anyone know where I can find *current* statistics on infant male >circumcision in Australia?? >Thanks

Some claim 10% Dr. Brian Morris claims recently that Australia has a 20 % infant male circumcision rate.

Response:

> Does anyone know where I can find *current* statistics on infant male > circumcision in Australia?? > Thanks

Who knows? But this may help. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The Sun-Herald, April 25, 1999 >      BABIES AT THE CUTTING EDGE >      Circumcision of male infants is making a comeback >      reports Martin Chulov > After years of declining rates in Australia and opposition to the > procedure from doctors, a growing number of parents are asking > for their baby boys to be circumcised. And, for the first time, the > Royal Australian College of Surgeons has formed a policy > position – it does not oppose the procedure. [Note: The name is actually > the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons] > Thirty years ago more than 60 per cent of Australian males were > routinely circumcised; that figure has fallen dramatically to less > than 10 per cent of male babies born. However, hospitals have reported a > recent surge in requests for the procedure, which is > typically performed when baby boys are about seven days old. A report > released recently showed that pediatricians were > receiving requests from parents to circumcise up to 20 per cent of > newborn boys. > The College of Surgeons said performing the procedure was at the > discretion of parents and could be performed for religious, > cultural, medical or social reasons. It said it should be performed only > by "a competent operator… under sterile conditions > designed to minimise hazards… using appropriate anaesthetic". > The procedure is leading to widespread division among GPs and medical > lobby groups with the Australian College of Pediatrics > saying circumcision should not be performed until babies are at least > six months. It said "neonatal male circumcision has no > medical indication. It is a traumatic procedure performed without > anaesthesia to remove a normal functional and protective > prepuce". > The Australian Medical Association (AMA) opposes routine circumcision > and will only endorse it on "therapeutic grounds". > AMA NSW president Peter Thursby said: "And then we would need to be > convinced of the reasons for exposing > seven-day-old infants to this." Dr Thursby said Australians’ access to > hygiene reduced the risks of penile cancers or diseases > which were associated with non-circumcised men in some first and second > world countries (sic). "Penile carcinoma rates have > fallen dramatically in Australia over the past 50 years and are > continuing to do so", Dr Thursby said. > But Professor Brian Morris fron the University of Sydney’s Physiology > Department claims, in a new book, that "there are > benefits to be had from the procedure at any age". Dr Morris says lack > of circumcision is responsible for increasing the rates of > urinary tract infection by up to 12 times and offers increased exposure > to penile cancers. He also says it increases the risk of > acquiring the HIV virus and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Response:

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