Circumcision is a surgical procedure to remove the foreskin (prepuce). There is evidence that circumcision has been practised for over 3700 years.
There are several reasons for circumcision:
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for religious, family or cultural reasons
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a medical indication
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prevention of future medical problems
If a boy or man has recurrent medical problems related to the foreskin, circumcision may be recommended. For example, the foreskin may contribute to infections of the head of the penis, in which case circumcision may be recommended.