Circumcision - Risks of circumcision

As with all types of surgery, circumcision has some risks. However, complications from circumcisions carried out for medical reasons are rare in England.

Bleeding and infection are the most common problems associated with circumcision.

Other complications can include:

• a decrease in sensation in the penis, particularly during sex
• damage to the tube that carries urine inside the penis (urethra), causing it to narrow and making it hard to pass urine
• removal of too much of the foreskin
• accidental amputation of the head of the penis, which is very rare
• a blood infection or blood poisoning (septicaemia)

Problems with circumcisions carried out for religious or cultural reasons may go unreported.

Circumcision is not carried out on boys born with a specific birth defect of the penis that affects where the opening of the urethra (urinary tube) is found. This is because the foreskin is used to reconstruct the urethra.