Advocacy groups steer more people away to undergo circumcision

• Advocacy groups in Australia are trying to convince people to do away with circumcision.
• In some cases, men undergo the procedure because of medical reasons.
• A group of in Australia even helps with the practice of foreskin restoration

While other countries believe that men should be circumcised for health or religious reasons, Australia seems to be averse to continuing the practice.

In the 1950s, 80 percent of the men under the age of 30 had undergone the procedure but according to international healthcare group Bupa, only 32 percent of men are still doing the procedure nowadays.

An advocacy group in Australia called the Foreskin Revolution are trying to convince people to make do without circumcision.

Michael Winnel, the group leader of the Foreskin Revolution, told the SBS’s The Feed: “You’re not allowed to do scarification on your children, you’re not allowed to do foot binding. Yet, you’re allowed to hack off the most sensitive part of their penis for the rest of their life.

“I think that the medical establishment needs to stand up. That’s their duty of care. Their Hippocratic oath is to do no harm.”

Groups like Intaction and Save Our Sons are also advocating around the world for people to reconsider having the procedure done on their sons.

In some cases, men undergo circumcision because of medical reasons but they don’t make up the bulk of procedures.

A group in Australia even helps practice foreskin restoration. The procedure involves slow stretching of the remaining skin to produce a helmet-like form.

Intact Australia director Max Roberts The Feed: “Even after a few weeks, I was able to tell some difference, you could see some gains there.

“The foreskin has tens of thousands of erogenous nerve endings that are stripped off. It’s shocking.

“It’s an essential part of the male genitalia. It provides protection for the glans and keeps them soft and moist.”

In 2010, the Royal Australian College of Physicians made a ruling that essentially advised parents against getting the snip for their son unless it was necessary.

The ruling said: “After reviewing the currently available evidence, 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 in Australia and New Zealand.”