As with practically every medical procedure there are some circumstances where circumcision is to be avoided unless the direct medical benefits outweigh the contra-indications.
Circumcision should be delayed until the baby has left the premature baby unit and is thriving.
Circumcision should be delayed until the baby has not only regained birth weight but is showing consistent weight gain.
If the boy is ill at the planned time of circumcision the operation should be delayed until the boy is well again.
There are only two long term contra-indications:-
Because this condition causes prolonged bleeding from even minor cuts any surgery is normally to be avoided. However, the 'Plastibell' might sometimes be able to be used since it acts by crushing and sealing the blood vessels rather than by cutting through them.
In this condition the urethra, or water pipe, opens onto the under surface of the penis shaft instead of the end of the glans. The normal treatment, which is not commenced until the boy is about 4 or 5 years old, is to use the foreskin to reconstruct the urethra. The boy will end up circumcised but it is essential that the skin is available for the reconstruction.
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