Yes, newborn circumcision still happens, though rates vary by country, region, and family preference.
Parents still choose circumcision for newborn sons in many places, but the pattern is uneven. In some countries and faith groups, the practice is routine. In others, it’s uncommon or done later for medical reasons. Hospitals still offer the procedure in much of North America, while many European systems rarely do it without a medical need. Public health programs in parts of Africa offer adult and adolescent services for HIV prevention, which is a separate track from infant procedures.
Quick Landscape: Where And How It’s Done
Timing, access, and motives shift by location. The table below gives a broad early view before we go deeper.
| Region/Context | Common Timing | What Drives Practice |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Birth hospitalization or first weeks | Hospital availability, family tradition, perceived health benefits |
| Canada | First weeks (often outpatient) | Family choice; variable provincial coverage |
| Europe (non-religious) | Less common in infancy | Medical-need focus; low routine use in many systems |
| Muslim-Majority Settings | Infancy to childhood | Religious rite; near-universal in many countries |
| East & Southern Africa (VMMC) | Adolescents/adults (public health) | HIV prevention programs separate from infant procedures |
Are Infant Boys Still Getting Circumcisions Today?
Short answer: yes, but the rate isn’t static. In the U.S., hospital data from past decades show a gradual decline across various periods, with regional differences. Families in the Midwest often encounter higher hospital uptake than those in the West. Coverage rules and hospital policies also shape what new parents see on consent forms before discharge. Outside the U.S., routine newborn procedures are uncommon across much of Europe, while uptake remains high in many Muslim populations. Globally, prevalence reflects religion, local policy, and access to trained providers.
Why Parents Say Yes
Religious And Family Traditions
For Jewish and many Muslim families, circumcision is a core rite. Timing varies by tradition and local custom. In households without a religious mandate, some parents still choose the procedure to match family patterns or to align siblings.
Perceived Health Upsides
Parents often hear about lower risks of certain infections over a lifetime. In infancy, one topic is urinary tract infection risk in the first year. Later in life, some data point to lower rates of specific sexually transmitted infections in males who are circumcised. In the United States, the American Academy of Pediatrics policy states that benefits can outweigh risks for families who choose it, while also emphasizing parental choice.
Access And Insurance
Hospitals that list the procedure on standard newborn consent packets tend to have higher uptake than places where parents must schedule an outpatient visit. Insurance or public coverage also influences behavior; when coverage is limited, some families delay or skip the procedure.
Why Parents Say No
Different Cultural Norms
In many European countries, infant procedures without a medical indication are unusual. Parents there report little social expectation to do it at birth. That norm shapes family decisions even when private clinics offer the service.
Pain And Complication Concerns
Modern practice uses local anesthesia and careful technique, yet no procedure is risk-free. Most complications reported in newborns are minor and treatable, such as small bleeding or local infection. Rare events can occur, which leads some parents to opt out. Good counseling walks through expected care and the actual risk profile rather than broad claims on either side.
Ethical And Bodily Autonomy Views
Another reason is the desire to defer any non-urgent surgery until the child can decide later. Parents in this camp may choose watchful waiting and pursue medical circumcision only if a health problem emerges.
How The Procedure Works In Newborns
Where It Happens
In many hospitals, trained clinicians perform the procedure during the birth stay or within the first weeks in an outpatient setting. The newborn is swaddled, local anesthetic is given, and one of several standard methods is used. The session is brief. A protective dressing and clear aftercare steps go home with the family.
Contraindications And Delays
Clinicians screen for issues that call for delay, such as prematurity, unstable health, bleeding disorders, or atypical genital anatomy. When a baby is not an immediate candidate, teams revisit the plan once the infant is stable or refer to a pediatric urologist.
Aftercare Basics
Parents get a simple checklist: keep the area clean and dry, change gauze as instructed, use petroleum jelly to prevent sticking, and watch for signs that need a call (fever, increasing redness, pus, swelling, or persistent bleeding). Most healing is quick. A routine newborn check in the first week gives space for questions.
Reading The Trends With Care
Headline numbers can confuse because data sets track different things. Some sources measure hospital procedures during the birth stay only. Others fold in outpatient clinics, religious ceremonies outside hospitals, and later medical cases. As a result, one chart might show a drop, while overall male prevalence in a country looks higher due to procedures in older boys and men. Public health programs for HIV prevention in East and Southern Africa are a separate driver of adult and adolescent procedures, and they do not reflect hospital choices for newborns.
United States Pattern In Plain Terms
Hospital-based newborn procedures slipped over past decades, with the West lower than the Midwest and Northeast. Insurance coverage policies and hospital offerings shape the day-to-day picture for new parents. Even with a downward drift in hospital figures over some periods, a large share of boys still have the procedure in the first weeks of life, and many men remain circumcised overall in adulthood. For context on public health programs unrelated to infants, see the CDC’s summary of voluntary medical male circumcision in HIV prevention efforts, which documents millions of procedures across African partner countries; that is a distinct program from newborn care (CDC MMWR).
Benefits, Risks, And Care At A Glance
| Topic | What Studies Report | What Parents Do With It |
|---|---|---|
| UTIs In Infancy | Lower risk reported in circumcised males | Some families weigh this strongly for early decision-making |
| STI/HIV Later | Lower risk for some infections; HIV data are strongest in high-prevalence settings | Families in low-prevalence areas may give this less weight |
| Complications | Mostly minor when performed by trained clinicians | Parents review screening, anesthesia, and aftercare before consent |
| Pain Control | Local anesthesia and comfort measures reduce pain | Parents ask about the specific method used at their hospital |
| Ethics | Autonomy concerns lead some to defer | Families align choice with personal values |
What Major Bodies Say
Professional groups publish guidance that helps clinicians counsel families. In the U.S., the pediatric academy’s policy concludes that the health benefits can outweigh risks for those who choose the procedure and supports coverage access. You can read the policy text here: AAP statement. Public health agencies also publish data on HIV prevention programs that use circumcision for older boys and men in high-burden settings; see the CDC summary here: CDC VMMC overview. Keep in mind that those programs target different age groups and aims than newborn care.
How To Decide As A Family
Start With Your Values
List what matters most: faith commitments, family traditions, comfort with medical procedures, and your preference about timing. If a religious rite is planned, speak with your faith leader about timing, practitioner qualifications, and aftercare.
Ask Clear Questions At The Hospital
- Who performs the procedure and how often?
- What pain control is used?
- Where will it be done—during the birth stay or as an outpatient visit?
- What are the realistic risks and how are they handled?
- What does aftercare look like day by day?
- Is it covered by my plan, and if not, what is the fee?
Check Medical Readiness
If your baby is premature, unwell, or has atypical anatomy, your team may recommend waiting. That pause protects safety and offers time to plan a specialist visit if needed.
Plan Aftercare Before You Leave
Pick up gauze and petroleum jelly. Learn how to place the dressing and how to keep diapers from rubbing. Schedule a quick newborn check in the first week, and note phone numbers for urgent questions. Good preparation eases the first days at home.
Common Myths, Clean Facts
“It Always Hurts A Lot”
Pain control has improved. Local anesthesia, sucrose, swaddling, and skin-to-skin time reduce distress. Ask the team to explain each step so you know what to expect.
“Complications Are Inevitable”
No procedure is risk-free, but trained hands and proper screening keep complications rare. Most issues are minor and resolve with simple care. Hospitals track adverse events and review technique to keep standards tight.
“There’s No Medical Rationale At All”
Health-related reasons exist in the literature, though families weigh them differently. The pediatric academy’s policy reflects that nuance: benefits can exceed risks for those who choose it, yet the choice rests with parents. That framing helps teams offer balanced counseling.
A Practical Way To Weigh The Choice
Make A Two-Column List
On one side, list reasons that align with your household: faith, tradition, hygiene preferences, potential health upsides, and convenience while the baby is small. On the other side, list reasons to defer: desire for the child to decide later, discomfort with any surgery in the newborn period, or a wish to avoid even small risks. Bring the list to your pediatric visit and walk through it with a clinician who performs the procedure regularly.
Think About The First Year
Ask how each path plays out during infancy. If you choose the procedure, plan the timing and aftercare. If you defer, learn signs of problems that would need a clinic visit, such as repeated infections or difficulty retracting later in childhood. Either path benefits from a solid plan and a reachable clinic team.
Bottom Line For New Parents
Infant circumcision still takes place across large parts of the world, though the rate and timing vary widely. In the U.S., hospitals continue to offer the procedure, and many families choose it; at the same time, hospital-based numbers show dips in some periods and regions. Major medical groups present a balanced view: documented benefits on one side, small but real risks on the other, and an emphasis on parental choice. The best next step is a focused talk with your baby’s clinician about readiness, technique, pain control, and aftercare. With clear information and a plan, families can make a choice that fits their values and their newborn’s needs.