Changing trends in a decade of circumcision in Scotland
Abstract
Purpose
There has been a move toward conservative management of foreskin problems. The aim of this study was to examine overall trends for circumcision in Scotland to see if there has been a decrease in the number of operations performed.
Methods
Retrospective analysis looking at the number of circumcisions performed each year over a 10-year period (1990 to 2000), in the 0 to 13-year age group. The principal indication for circumcision in each case was ascertained as were the number of preputioplasties performed over the corresponding period.
Results
A total of 15,605 circumcisions were performed during the 10-year period; 10,888 (69.8%) for phimosis, 2,724 (17.5%) for nonmedical/religious reasons, and 1993 (12.8%) for all other indications. There was a 33.7% decrease in total number of circumcisions performed between the first and second halves of the study period. The fall in operations performed is almost solely attributable (94.5%) to a reduction in number of procedures carried out for phimosis. There was a corresponding increase in preputioplasties performed over the study period.
Conclusions
There has been a steady decrease in circumcision rates in Scotland. This is in keeping with greater appreciation of pathologic phimosis as distinguished from a healthy nonretractile foreskin, which does not require circumcision.
aDepartment of Vascular Surgery, Basic Surgical Training Scheme South East Scotland, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
bRoyal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Address reprint requests to O. Quaba, MRCS (Edin), SHO Vascular Surgery, Basic Surgical Training Scheme South East Scotland, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Lauriston Place, EH3 9YW Edinburgh, United Kingdom UK
ABSTRACT