Dr Muiris Houston, Medical Correspondent, outlines the circumstances in which a child can be circumcised.
Circumcision is an operation to remove excess foreskin from the penis. It is legitimately carried out in the Republic for both medical and cultural reasons.
Medical indications for surgery include a condition called phimosis in which the foreskin cannot be retracted over the head of the penis. The foreskin does not usually retract until the age of two years. Therefore an inability to retract the foreskin before this age is not an indication for circumcision.
However, later in childhood, if the opening of the foreskin is too narrow it may balloon out when urine is flowing. This can lead to an inflammation underneath the foreskin (balanitis). Circumcision in children for medical reasons is usually carried out from the age of four onwards.
In adults a narrow foreskin causes different problems particularly during intercourse. If the foreskin is too tight discomfort and inflammation may result. Sometimes it will retract with difficulty but will be unable to return to the normal position. This is called paraphimosis and is another medical reason for circumcision.
Circumcision is usually carried out as a day case and is performed under general anaesthetic. The foreskin is removed during the operation and this leaves a circle of small stitches around the end of the penis, which dissolve within four weeks. A small amount of bleeding is common in the first post operative week but more extensive bleeding can rarely occur.
Religious circumcision is carried out early in a child's life. In the Muslim faith it is performed approximately 40 days after birth. In the new multi-ethnic Republic health professionals are now being trained to understand the cultural beliefs of immigrants and how they influence peoples health seeking behaviour. Children's hospitals in the State routinely perform circumcision for religious or cultural reasons.