Aparently, the circumcision discussion that I mentioned the other day is still hot and kicking. There was an expert opinion posted here with a couple of links to medical resources. I’ve read it through and I have only a couple of points to bring out.
- Resources. I have checked both of the links provided by the expert. The reference to the The New England Journal of Medicine requires a subscription to access the article. Subscription is not free, and I am not yet convinced that I should spend any money on it. In any way, I have to dismiss it as it is not a “public enough” information and peer review that those articles recieve is questionable. The second article seems to be based on the first reference, so I don’t see much point in it either.
- Safe sex. The medical reason provided by the expert suggest that circumcised penis is less likely to harbour all sorts of infections. I have difficulty believing it considering safe sex in general, and condoms in particular. Circumcision deals with the part of the penis which is isolated by the condom. Medical studies of those people who practice sex with “multiple partners” without condoms do not concern me. Unless those are brain studies.
- “Just in case”. I find it very surprising to hear the phrase “Just in case” from a Ph.D. in medical science. I do not think that this is a good enough reason to do anything at all in general, and cutting pieces of skin off the penis in particular.
Resume: I am still far away from being convinced that the procedure is necessary.
