Welcome to the CIRCLIST Website.
Nowhere else will you find as comprehensive a source of information on circumcision.
Medical Terms &
Penile Anatomy
Styles & Results
of Circumcision
Personal Preferences
& Experiences
Rites & Practices
Around the World
The first circumcision dates back about to 15000 years ago; the first pictures of circumcisions appear to be from 4300 years ago. Although its origins are unknown, earliest evidence of the practice dates from ancient Egypt (2300 BC). By the time of the Roman takeover of Egypt (30 BC), the practice had a ritual significance, and only circumcised priests could perform certain religious rites.
In the United States, Canada, Australia and throughout the Middle East. Africa, and Pacific islands, circumcision is still performed routinely on boys from infancy to adolescence. Today, however, parents are weighing the pros and cons of circumcision before choosing what is best for their son. Many parents are asking questions such as: What are the medical benefits? What will happen if my son isn't circumcised? Is it painful? Can it be done after infancy? Further, many adult males who did not benefit from infant circumcision are considering having this procedure performed in adulthood. Finally, some females are now requesting circumcision of the clitoral hood, as a way to increase sexual response.
Now, take your time to explore the many interesting and educational areas of this web site. The site is updated frequently from the postings made on CIRCLIST, the email based circumcision information discussion group. The majority of information contained in this web site is taken from member postings made to CIRCLIST and consequently provides you with a wide variety of information, varying personal opinions, and medical facts, statistics and recent medical news.
What is male circumcision?
At birth, boys have skin that covers the end of the penis, called the foreskin or prepuce. During circumcision the foreskin is removed so that the tip of the penis (the glans) and the opening through which the male urinates (the urethra) are exposed. If circumcision is performed at infancy or in childhood, it only lasts a few minutes, and is usually done by a doctor in the first few days of life in the United States and other countries which perform the procedure for non-religious and social customs. For example, in Jewish families, a special religious person called a Mohel does the circumcision as part of a ceremony called a Bris held on the eighth day of life. Circumcision is performed routinely on those practicing the Moslem faith, usually when a boy is between 5 and 10 years of age. However, circumcision can easily be performed on men and boys of all ages, using a wide variety of devices specially designed to make the task quick and accurate.
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What is female circumcision?
Female circumcision refers to the surgical procedure in which the hood of the females clitoris (called the clitoral prepuce) is removed. However, the term is often confused in modern day writings with ritual procedures performed in Egypt and in other countries which remove the entire clitoris and/or the labia. On this site, we refer to female circumcision as only the removal of the hood of the clitoris.
