In Bernard Malamud’s classic novella, “The Assistant,” when Helen sees her lover’s uncircumcised penis, she ridicules and insults him. But instead of retaliating against her, Frankie undergoes a painful surgical procedure in the hope of winning her love, and thus ends a beautifully written story. While it seems a drastic measure on the part of Frankie, it illuminates an issue of which I was unaware, male circumcision as an unnerving, disturbing procedure.
When we speak of genital mutilation in the 21st century we generally refer to the barbaric practice of female circumcision performed in third world countries, and accept male circumcision as the norm in the United States. Indeed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) even include it in their guidelines.
Of late there have been arguments against these guidelines suggesting that in computing the determinants of male health, the CDC may not have taken into consideration the impact of circumcision on the developing male psyche.
Circumcision is typically done on infants with either local anesthetic or no anesthetic at all. We are instructed to brush it off, assuming children won’t remember the experience, or even worse- not feel the pain. A baby might not remember the experience or what caused the pain, but circumcision can create psychological issues including anxiety, hyperactivity and mood disorders as well as a lifelong enhanced sensitivity to pain. While the experience is not consciously intellectualized, it is deeply rooted in a cellular manner with lifelong ramifications including anger, shame, distrust, grief, sexual anxiety, reduced emotional expression, and avoidance of intimacy.
Research has shown that even as infants, any type of procedure performed on the genitals, including circumcision, can have long lasting psychological effects. In some cases, it can lead to symptoms that are similar to a child who has been sexually abused.
Men who go through circumcision at a young age can struggle with issues of fear, loss of control, and depression. If a child is older when he goes through the procedure, the effects can be even worse, contributing to feelings of violation, mutilation and victimization. Boys on whom circumcision is performed between the ages of 4-7 often report negative body image as well as feelings of inadequacy, and some believe it violates a child’s rights.
Circumcision meets all the criteria of a traumatic event. Even if a child can’t remember the actual experience, their mind and body have different ways of holding onto trauma. Because of this, it can cause symptoms of PTSD later on in life, but it can be hard to connect the dots because it is rarely thought of as a root cause of emotional pathology.
Although the CDC hasn’t taken these psychological risks into account, you can, especially if you’re a parent or thinking of becoming one.
But bear in mind the value of possible health benefits associated with male circumcision, such as lower transmission of STDs as well advantageous identifying aspects for those whom circumcision represents either a rite of passage or being part of a meaningful group. Men struggle with enough body image issues—it doesn’t have to start from the moment they’re born. Learning as much as you can about circumcision will help you to make a more informed decision for your child.
Feel free to contact me to learn more about some of these negative psychological impacts. If you’re a man struggling with some of the signs and symptoms listed in this article, I would be happy to help.