- uncircumcision or reconstruction of the male foreskin
Throughout the world doctors agree that the disadvantages of infant circumcision far exceed the advantages. This has lead to a decrease in the number of these operations performed each year worldwide. Outside the United States this operation is uncommon but male genital mutilation in the United States remains as big a problem as female genital mutilation was, elsewhere in the world, a decade ago.
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But where does this leave men whose genitals were mutilated by circumcison at birth and want reconstruction of the foreskin?
There is no perfect method of reconstruction. However for some men these methods are worth trying. For many a non-surgical, approach using tape and stretching the foreskin can be used.
Others prefer the quicker method of cosmetic foreskin reconstruction. Several methods are described. They have in common a release of the penile skin at the base of the penis. This skin is then stretched over the glans (head) of the penis. The bare area is reconstructed using a free skin graft or part of the scrotum. In all these cases the penis will have skin on its shaft that does not match the rest of the penis. In most cases the benefits are worth this problem.
With any method the penis rarely looks the same as it would if it were not circumcised. So, as in all areas of medicine, prevention is better than cure.
Female genital mutilation is the subject of international outcry, and it is hoped that the next few years will see a similar outrage about genital mutilation of helpless baby boys.
