The American Academy of Pediatrics has concluded that the health benefits of circumcision clearly outweigh any risks. “There is clear evidence that supports the health benefits of circumcision,” said Susan Blank, who led the 14-member task force that formulated the new policy being published in the journal Pediatrics. “The health benefits of male circumcision include a drop in the risk of urinary tract infection in the first year of life by up to 90%,” she says. Blank states that there is a much bigger reason to do it considering that circumcision lowers the risk of a long list of sexually transmitted diseases. “It drops the risk of heterosexual HIV acquisition by about 60%.” In addition, “It drops the risk of human papillomavirus [HPV], herpes virus and other infectious genital ulcers,” she says. “It also reduces the chances that men will spread HPV to their wives and girlfriends, protecting them from getting cervical cancer.” Blank states, “We’ve reviewed the data and, you know, we have gone through them with a fine-tooth comb, and the data are pretty convincing.” This statement and accompanying technical report marks the first revision of the organization’s position since 1999, when the academy backed away from circumcision.
