Circumcision from a Medical Perspective: Analysis of Risks, Potential Benefits, and Bioethical Dilemmas Medical circumcision is a surgical procedure to remove the foreskin of the penis. Its evaluation from the perspective of evidence-based medicine presents a complex and ambiguous picture, where potential health benefits must be weighed against the risks of the procedure, its irreversibility, and the lack of medical necessity for the vast majority of newborns. The medical community in different countries holds various positions based on epidemiological data and cultural context. 1. Potential Medical Benefits: What Does Evidence-Based Medicine Say? Research, mainly epidemiological, indicates several areas where circumcision may reduce risks: Reducing the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in infants: The risk of UTIs in circumcised boys under one year of age is 5-10 times lower. However, the absolute risk of UTIs in uncircumcised boys is already low (about 1%). To prevent one case of UTI, approximately 100-200 infants would need to be circumcised. Most UTIs are successfully treated with antibiotics. Reducing the risk of certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs): Large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in Africa have shown that circumcision in adult men reduces the risk of heterosexual HIV infection by 50-60%. There is also a noted reduction in the risk of high-risk HPV and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Mechanism: The keratinized mucosa of the glans after circumcision is less susceptible to microtrauma and viral penetration. Important: This effect has been proven for high-risk groups in specific epidemiological conditions (Sub-Saharan Africa) and does not negate the need for barrier contraception methods. Preventing phimosis and paraphimosis: Circumcision prevents pathological phimosis (inability to uncover the glans due to scar changes in the foreskin) and its acute complication, paraphimosis (strangulation of the glans by a constricted f ... Read more