“My friend belongs to a certain religion, where the penis skin is removed as part of their tradition, is it correct? Why is it not done to me?”
The process of removing the foreskin from the human penis is referred to as Circumcision. It is primarily done only for two reasons: one in accordance with certain religious beliefs and another one for medical reasons.
As per the religious beliefs, the process of circumcision is done as soon as the male child is born, probably within ten days of birth. They claim that the circumcision is a way of purifying their body and soul. Some choose to do it in the hospital or at home, after following certain religious rituals. It is usually performed after administering general anesthesia to new born baby. According to the estimates of National Institutes of Health published in March 2016, such male circumcision is more prevalent in United States and few parts of Africa & Middle East. However, in medical terms there is little evidence that circumcision process for newborn child will provide medical benefits.
On the other hand, grown up adolescent boys and adults undergo the process of circumcision due to some medical conditions like Balanoposthitis, Phimosis and Paraphimosis. Otherwise there are no other medical reasons to do them.
The process of circumcision claims certain advantage in the following aspects: decreasing the risk of certain urinary infections, especially during infancy; decreasing the risk of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and penile cancer, etc by promoting the genital hygiene. However, there are certain limitations in terms of pain experienced during the process and the perceived disfigurement by others. At the same time, if the process goes wrong, it might lead to excessive bleeding, infection and poor healing.
See Also: Some facts about Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
If the process of circumcision is not done to you, it means that you do not belong to the religious group that undergoes the same. Hence, talk to your parents and family doctor to understand what are the benefits and risks associated in it. As such, there is no universal rule that the process should be done, as it might be painful, especially in grown-ups, though it claims some medical benefits.
