I've already written about how I was happy to find out that getting my son circumcised the day after he was born was a good decision. Especially considering the medical benefits of this procedure, including potentially lowering his risk of developing prostate cancer. But now that a new study suggests the cost of infants not getting circumcised could end up costing billions of dollars in terms of health care, I'm more convinced that ever that it was the right decision.
According to the study, the increase in health care costs has to do with an incrementation of people with AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and cancer, illnesses that could all be prevented through circumcision.
Read more in ¿Qué más?: Why I'm happier than ever that my son is circumcised
In fact, for the first time ever, the American Academy of Pediatrics will be issuing a new policy reversing their recommendation against circumcision with something that says it has "significant" health benefits. Maybe with that more parents will be convinced of the benefits of circumcision, a procedure which has dropped since the 1970s due in part to insurance not covering it.
The thing is that if circumcision rates continue to drop the results would be dramatic, according to researchers:
- 211% more urinary tract infections in baby boys
- 12% more HIV cases in men
- 29% more human papillomavirus (HPV) cases in men
- 18% more high-risk HPV infections in women
Not to mention a lot more cases of both cervical and penile cancer linked to HPV. The biggest jump in health care costs, though, would come from HIV and the medical bills associated with that.
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If this is not reason enough to look at circumcision a little closer, I don't know what is. I know that for a lot of people it's a violation of their child's body and while I respect that view, I think it's also important to look at the benefits and try to see which weighs more.
What do you think? Did you circumcise your sons? Share your thoughts with us by leaving us a comment below.
Image via Ran Yaniv Hartstein/flickr
