Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin, the tissue covering the head of the penis. It is an ancient practice that has its origin in religious rites. Today, many parents have their sons circumcised for religious or other reasons.
During a circumcision, the foreskin is freed from the head of the penis (glans), and the excess foreskin is clipped off.
Usually it is done on newborns but in some circumstances it is recommended for older boys and men. Usually this is for the prevention of phimosis (the inability to retract the foreskin) and paraphimosis (the inability to return the foreskin to its original location). It can also be recommended when the foreskin is too long.
