Physicians say the level of protection offered by circumcision does not warrant a change of policy on the infant surgical procedure in Australia, despite a leading researcher claiming it to be a "desirable" public health intervention.
A systematic review of male infant circumcision led by Dr Brian Morris, professor emeritus at the University of Sydney, found the benefits of the procedure exceed the associated risks by 200 to one.
The study, published in the World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics, reports that uncircumcised males face an 80 per cent risk of developing a foreskin-related condition requiring medical attention.
By comparison, the risk of an "associated adverse event" from the circumcision procedure - the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis - is about one in 250.
"Over their lifetime more than one in two uncircumcised males will suffer an adverse medical condition caused by their foreskin," said Dr Morris.
The researchers' risk-benefit estimates were based on an analysis of research data compiled from 140 "high-quality" research studies relevant to Australia.
The studies had determined the level of protection male circumcision affords against conditions such as urinary infections, inflammatory conditions, sexually transmitted infections and genital cancers as well as the level of risk posed by the circumcision procedure in infancy.
Cosmetic circumcision is banned at Australian public hospitals, although the surgery can be carried out privately.
Dr Morris said permitting male circumcision only for medical reasons was "penny wise, pound foolish".
"The enormous benefit but low risk makes early infant circumcision akin to childhood vaccination," he said.
But the The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) disagrees but accepts that there are differing medical and non-medical opinions on the often highly emotive and cultural issue of infant male circumcision.
"The RACP believes that the frequency of diseases modifiable by circumcision, the level of protection offered by circumcision and the complication rates of circumcision do not warrant routine infant circumcision for healthy male infants in Australia and New Zealand," a RACP spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday.
Dr Tony Bartone, vice president of the Australian Medical Association, says the study needs to be further evaluated by the wider medical community.
"Yes, the risk-benefit they talk about is obviously in favour with proceeding with circumcision but a number of the risks are still so low incidence you need to keep that in mind," he said.
"Every case needs to be dealt with on a one-to-one basis with the appropriate information and education," Dr Bartone added.
* A copy of the RACP's infant circumcision position statement can be found at
