Circumcision for men
Circumcision for men (circumcision)
Circumcision must be performed with the utmost care by a medical specialist. Circumcisions are performed for various reasons.
These include:
- Religious or cultural circumcision
- Cosmetic circumcision
-
Hygienic circumcision;
when it is difficult to push back the foreskin or it is too narrow - Medical prevention of illnesses such as penile cancer or prostate cancer
- Sexual reasons such as premature ejaculation (ejaculatio praecox)
- Recurring inflammation of the glans (balanitis)
Preparation at home
You are requested to thoroughly shave (wet or dry shave) the scrotum (scrotal sac), penis and pubic area the evening before the procedure. To avoid any risk of infection, it is crucial that you do not cut yourself accidentally.
On the day of the procedure, carefully wash the area with soap and water to avoid infection. You may eat and drink before the procedure. You may not drive a car or cycle after the procedure. The chance of haemorrhage is higher if you use blood thinners. This means that you need to stop taking the medicines a few days before the procedure. Consult your physician or thrombosis service on when to stop taking these medicines and when you may resume taking them. If you have regular check-ups at a thrombosis service, have an INR test done either on the weekday before the procedure or on the day itself. It must be less than 2!
The circumcision procedure for men
After local anaesthetic by injection, the area around the penis and scrotal sac will be thoroughly disinfected. The area of the operation will then be covered with sterile pads to avoid infection of the area. The foreskin will be separated from the glans by the medical specialist. The exact length of the affected foreskin that will be removed will be accurately determined and will then be cut away using a special electric knife. Any haemorrhaging that occurs will be stopped and treated. The loose pieces of skin will then be sutured. We use dissolvable stiches so they do not need to be removed later. The wound that remains after stitching is cleaned and dressed.
The circumcision procedure takes 20-30 minutes.
Post-procedure care
The dressing can be changed after one day and you may take a shower. It usually takes a few weeks for the male circumcision wound to heal. The glans can look red, swollen and irritated after the procedure. These side effects can be eased by applying Vaseline to the area. They will disappear within a few weeks. We recommend wearing close fitting underwear or swimming trunks to avoid the penis hanging too much. After the procedure, it is wise to rest for the rest of the day. Consult your doctor on when you can return to work. You may wash the wound every day. Dry the wound carefully. The wound may contain exudate. This is not a cause for concern. You may not do sports in the first week after the procedure and may only swim when the wound has completely healed. Once the wound is fully healed, you may resume sexual intercourse. In case of pain, take one to two 500 mg paracetamol tablets (maximum six to eight per day).
Complications
Possible complications of the circumcision include: bleeding, fever (above 38.5°C) or swelling. In these cases, contact Avisina, your urology specialist.
Costs
If you would like more information about the costs of sterilisation, please phone Avisina.
Circumcision is not included in the basic health insurance package. You may thus have to pay for the treatment yourself. If you have a supplemental health insurance package, you may be able to claim the treatment from your health insurance company. If you wish to claim the treatment through your supplemental health insurance package, you will need a referral from your general practitioner.
