1. Impotence Slideshow Pictures
2. Sex Drive Killers: Causes of Low Libido Slideshow
3. Low Testosterone (Low T) Quiz

Medical Author:

David Perlstein, MD, MBA, FAAP

David Perlstein, MD, MBA, FAAP

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.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

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.

View Full Profile

In this Article

• What is a circumcision?
• Is a circumcision safe?
• How is a circumcision done?
• What should one expect after a circumcision?
• Is a circumcision painful for a baby?
• How can the pain be reduced?
• What are the contraindications to circumcision (the reasons against doing it)?
• What is the chance of a complication from a circumcision?
• Circumcision, the Surgical Procedure At A Glance
• Circumcision The Surgical Procedure Index

What is the chance of a complication from a circumcision?

Large-scale studies indicate that the rate of complications is low, ranging from one in 200 to one in 500. The most common complications are local infection and bleeding. Complications due to local anesthesia consist mainly of hematomas (bruises) and local skin necrosis (damage and loss).

Deaths attributable to newborn circumcision are rare. No deaths occurred, for example, in an analysis of 500,000 circumcisions in New York City or 175,000 circumcisions in U.S. Army hospitals.

Circumcision—The Surgical Procedure At A Glance

• Newborn circumcision is a generally safe procedure if it is done under proper circumstances.
• Circumcision should be done by a trained, experienced practitioner.
• Circumcision should not be done if an infant is sick or in unstable health.
• A premature infant should not have circumcision until the baby meets the criteria to be discharged from the hospital.
• Infants with genital anomalies (including hypospadias) should not be circumcised.
• Babies with a family history of bleeding should not be circumcised until tests are done to make sure the child does not have a bleeding problem.
• Local analgesia should be given to reduce the pain associated with the procedure.
• Care of the infant after circumcision is simple and generally well tolerated.