Dr. Perlstein received his Medical Degree from the University of Cincinnati and then completed his internship and residency in pediatrics at The New York Hospital, Cornell medical Center in New York City. After serving an additional year as Chief Pediatric Resident, he worked as a private practitioner and then was appointed Director of Ambulatory Pediatrics at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
The issue of circumcision is as controversial as it ever has been. There are well-known religious, social, and medical reasons to recommend circumcision; however, most major medical societies have taken an "impartial" view of the procedure, neither recommending nor renouncing the practice.
What has been the medical view of circumcision?
In 1975, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) stated in no uncertain terms
that "there is no absolute medical indication for routine circumcision of the
newborn." In 1983, the AAP and the American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists (ACOG) restated this position. In 1999 and again in 2005, the AAP
again restated this position of equivocation.
Currently, the practice of
newborn circumcision is very common. It has been estimated that 60%-75% of all
males in the United States are circumcised. This number, of course, varies
depending upon ethnicity and religious affiliation.
Regarding newborn
circumcision, most physicians today agree with the practice of informing parents
of the risks and benefits of the procedure in an unbiased manner. Recently,
however, several large studies revealed a 60% decrease in HIV transmission in
circumcised males compared to uncircumcised males. This may ultimately influence
some changes in recommendations in the near future.
What is the anatomy of the penis?
The penis is a cylindrical shaft with a rounded tip. The rounded
tip is called the glans. There is a groove (termed the coronal
sulcus) between the shaft and the glans of the penis. The fold of
skin that covers the glans is the foreskin (the prepuce).
What is a retractable foreskin?
A retractable foreskin is one that can be pulled back behind the
groove of the coronal sulcus to expose the glans.
What is newborn circumcision?
Newborn circumcision consists of removal of the foreskin -- the
foreskin is resected to near the coronal sulcus -- in the newborn
period (before the age of 2 months).
Incidentally, the Latin circum means around (or about).
Circumcision is a cutting around.
What is the status of the foreskin at birth?
Only about one in every 20 boys is born with a retractable foreskin.
This reflects the fact that the tissue development of
the foreskin is usually not complete at birth.
The foreskin is thus not fully separable from the glans in about
96% of newborn boys. By 1 year of age, the foreskin can be
retracted in 50% of boys and by 3 years, the foreskin can be
retracted in 80%-90% of uncircumcised boys.
What does this have to do with circumcision?
It means that the inability to retract the foreskin at birth and
in infancy is normal and does not constitute a medical reason for a
circumcision.
Kidney infection (pyelonephritis) usually is caused from bacteria that have spread from the bladder from a UTI (urinary tract infection), poor hygiene, sexual intercourse, pregnancy, catheter, cystoscope exam, surgery, kidney stones, or prostate enlargement. Symptoms of kidney infection include: back pain, frequent urination, pain during urination, fever, and or pus or blood in the urine. Kidney infection is usually treated with antibiotics.
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the cause of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV is a type of virus called a retrovirus, which infects humans when it comes in contact with a break in the skin or tissues such as those that line the vagina, anal area, mouth, or eyes.
Cervical cancer is cancer of the entrance to the womb (uterus). Regular pelvic exams and Pap testing can detect precancerous changes in the cervix. Precancerous changes in the cervix may be treated with cryosurgery, cauterization, or laser surgery. The most common symptom of cancer of the cervix is abnormal bleeding.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, are infections that are transmitted during any
type of sexual exposure, including intercourse (vaginal or anal), oral sex, and
the sharing of sexual devices, such as vibrators. Although treatment exists for many STDs, others currently are
usually incurable, such as those caused by HIV, HPV, hepatitis B and C, and HHV-8.
Signs and symptoms of penile cancer include a lump on the penis and redness, irritation, or a sore on the penis. Risk of penis cancer is higher in uncircumcised men, due to a higher risk of HPV infection. Other risk factors include being over 60, having phimosis, having poor hygiene, using tobacco products, and having many sex partners. Prognosis and treatment depend upon the tumor's location and size, the stage of the cancer, and whether the cancer was recently diagnosed or if it recurred.
Encephalitis is a brain inflammation that causes sudden fever, vomiting, headache, light sensitivity, stiff neck and back, drowsiness, and irritability. Meningitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the meninges that surround the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms of meningitis include high fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and stiff neck.
Penis disorders (male reproductive problems) include priapism, Peyronie's disease, balanitis, phimosis, paraphimosis, and penile cancer. Read on for causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. These disorders can affect a man's fertility and sexual functioning. A variety of treatments are available for these disorders.
Sexual health information including birth control, impotence, herpes, sexually transmitted diseases, staying healthy, women's sexual health concerns, and men's sexual health concerns. Learn about the most common sexual conditions affecting men and women.
Men's health is an important component to a happy lifestyle and healthy relationships. Eating healthy, exercise, managing stress, and knowing when to have medical tests for a particular age is key to disease prevention in men.
Children's health is focused on the well-being of children from conception through adolescence. There are many aspects of children's health, including growth and development, illnesses, injuries, behavior, mental illness, family health and community health.
The average life expectancy of a man born in the United State in 2007 is 75
years and 5 months. The life expectancy for a man has increased dramatically in the past 50 years.
How long we live is important; however, the quality of life is equally
important. The ability to enjoy life to its
fullest requires investing time and effort into health maintenance and disease
prevention. This investment pays dividends almost immediately and it is never
too late to begin. A person who was 65 years old in 2007 could expect to live to
age 82, and a 75 year old could expect 10 more years of life.
Our bodies are incredibly complex machines that require fuel components
(food, water, and air) to grow, function, and repair itself. Like any machine, the body requires routine maintenance to make it last a long
time and to function well throughout a person's life expectancy. Using the body as it
was intended and minimizing abuse also inc...
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