U.S. Infant Circumcision Rates Fall

Circumcision rates in infants are falling in the Unites States, while the frequency of adult circumcisions appears to rising, according to a new study.

The study, published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, set out to observe unusual trends in circumcision rates, with infant rates rapidly falling, while adult circumcision rates continue to increase.

According to the study, circumcision was performed on 83 percent of all baby boys in the U.S. at its height in the 1960s, but since then the prevalence of the procedure has dropped.

In a review of numerous articles and data collected from the PubMed database, researchers were able to create a comprehensive overview of circumcision rates in the U.S., finding that by 2010, rates of infant circumcision in the U.S. had dropped to only 77 percent. More recent but inconclusive database evidence indicated that by 2012, these rates may have dropped even further, despite the fact that the affinitive 2012 American Academy of Pediatric policy encouraged circumcision in newborns due to the procedure's well documented benefits in preventative health.

The review also touched on recent data from the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that shows that the prevalence of circumcision in adult males between the ages of 14 and 49 has risen from 79 percent  to 81 percent over the past decade.

According to the study, an overall increase in circumcision prevalence in the U.S. despite drops in infant circumcision rates indicates that adult circumcision is on the rise.

Reacting to these findings, the lead researcher of the study, Brian Morris, expressed his concerns, saying that -- except in the case of religious belief -- circumcision is not something that should be avoided, as it has been proven to reduce the risks of common infections among children and is covered by private insurance and Medicaid.

"As with vaccination, circumcision of newborn boys should be part of public health policies. Campaigns should prioritize population subgroups with lower circumcision prevalence and a higher burden of diseases that can be ameliorated by circumcision," the authors of the study conclude.

The study was published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings on April 2.