Circumcision is a surgical procedure to remove the foreskin from the penis. The foreskin is the loose skin that covers the tip of the penis. In the United States, circumcision is often done before a new baby leaves the hospital.

As parents, it is your decision whether to have your baby circumcised. When making your decision, you should consider your own religious, cultural, and personal preferences, as well as the medical benefits and risks. You can discuss these with your baby's health care provider before you make a decision.

The possible medical benefits of circumcision include:

• A lower risk of HIV and some other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
• A slightly lower risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) during the first year of life and penile cancer later in life. However, these conditions are rare in all males (circumcised or not).
• Prevention of certain penile problems, such as foreskin infections and phimosis, a condition in which the foreskin can't be retracted (pulled back).
• Easier hygiene.

The risks of circumcision include:

• A low risk of bleeding, infection, or scarring.
• A very low risk of having too much or not enough skin cut off.
• Pain. You can ask the health care provider to put a numbing medicine on your baby's penis to lessen the pain.

These risks are higher when circumcision is performed on older babies, boys, and men.

Premature babies and babies born with health problems should not be circumcised until they are healthy.

If have your baby circumcised, ask their provider how to care for the penis as it heals.

If your baby does not get circumcised, their provider can teach you how to keep your baby's penis clean. It's important to know that a newborn's foreskin may not retract completely. Over time, it retracts on its own.