TLC For The Male Organ - Self-Care After Surgical Ablation In Adulthood

							     TLC For The Male Organ - Self-Care
     After Surgical Ablation In Adulthood
A surgical procedure to remove the prepuce (the skin covering the end of the male organ),
surgical ablation is a religious rite or a ceremonial tradition in many cultures. Surgical ablation of
the sheath has been in the news lately, because some people think the practice is painful and
risky. However, most doctors believe that people who have had the procedure as infants are
comfortable with the choices their parents made for them and have no regrets. On the other hand,
adult males may also choose to have the prepuce removed, whether for health reasons or as a
matter of personal aesthetics. In this case, concerns about caring for the male organ following
surgery may arise.

The debate about surgical ablation
Doctors who support surgical ablation say that its personal health benefits include near-
elimination of the lifetime risk of male organ cancer, nearly 100 times less chance of urinary
tract infection during infancy, reduced incidence of balanitis and phimosis (conditions affecting
the prepuce of the male organ) and less risk of acquisition and transmission of HIV and some
other socially transmitted diseases. Complications of surgical ablation, which include bleeding or
infection, are rare (2 to 3 percent), and serious or life-threatening problems such as damage to the
male organ or hemorrhaging are extremely rare.

On the other hand, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in 1999 and 2005,
problems with the male organ such as irritation can occur with or without surgical ablation; there
is no difference in hygiene, as long as proper care is followed; and there may or may not be
difference in intimate sensation or practices in adult men. Thus, male organ function remains
intact one way or the other, and many argue that surgical ablation of the prepuce is mainly a
matter of personal choice.

About the surgical ablation procedure
There are several ways to perform a surgical ablation. Some practitioners use a temporary clamp,
while others use a plastic bell that stays on the male organ for a certain length of time. For each
method, the practitioner separates the prepuce from the head of the male organ, cutting a small
slit in the prepuce and fastening the clamp in place. He or she leaves the clamp for a few minutes
to stop the bleeding. Then the prepuce can be cut and removed.
Caring for a circumcised male organ
The physician will provide specific instructions on the care of the surgical ablation site. These
may include:

• Keeping the area clean.
• Removing the gauze dressing and applying a new dressing.
• Being aware of normal healing, such as rawness and redness at the head of the male organ and
a small amount of blood at first or yellow-colored drainage later.
• Keeping the male organ clean with soap and water.
• Seeking medical attention for issues such as ongoing bleeding, excessive pain or signs of
infection.

Sensitivity issues
Men who are considering surgical ablation are often worried that they will lose some of their
natural sensitivity. Research findings on this issue are mixed, with some studies reporting a
reduction in sensation after surgical ablation, and others indicating no significant difference in
the sensitivity of a cut versus an uncut male organ. Some practitioners believe that lack of male
organ sensitivity in men who have undergone the procedure is sometimes emotionally based,
rather than rooted in a physiological problem.

Promoting a healthy and responsive male organ
Men who have been cut - as well as those with an intact prepuce - often find that a male organ
health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil) containing natural emollients
and moisturizers helps to boost male organ sensation, as well as maintaining even skin tone and
texture and improving the skin’s natural elasticity. A quality male organ vitamin formula may be
applied directly to the area following cleansing on a daily basis for maximum benefit.