About the Circumcision Academy of Australia

The Academy provides scientifically accurate medical information on male circumcision and contact details of doctors who perform circumcisions on newborn boys, older boys and men in Australia and New Zealand. The Academy was formed on 21 Jan 2010 at a meeting of several leaders in public health policy and medical science, together with other interested parties, at the National Centre for HIV Epidemiology & Clinical Research (now the Kirby Institute), St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, to form a new organization named the ‘Circumcision Academy of Australia’. (The Academy was previously known as The Circumcision Foundation of Australia.)

The organization is a not-for-profit incorporated association registered in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Its aims are to provide reliable evidence based medical research information on circumcision as a public health issue and facilitate education on good clinical practice. In this regard it produced the first evidence-based policy statement on infant male circumcision in Australia (see below). (Other, older policy statements in Australia are not evidence-based and should not be relied on.) High quality brochures are available for free download on this website (see below). In addition the Academy supports parental and individual choice in obtaining elective medical or religious circumcision in the Australian and the New Zealand community. The Academy is not aligned with any other medical body nor with any particular religious faith or other entity.

International consensus statement on infant male circumcision by 56 Australian and International academic and clinical experts: InternationalStatementCircumcision.pdf

For an extensive, evidence-based appraisal of circumcision go to: www.circinfo.net

For free brochures in other languages go to: www.circinfo.net

Donations can be sent to: Circumcision Academy of Australia Inc., PO Box 1776, Bondi Junction, NSW 2022, Australia

OR

by funds transfer to National Australia Bank:

Account Name: Circumcision Academy of Australia Inc.,

BSB: 082372

Account: 840325369

(If funds transfer is from outside Australia, the SWIFT code is NATAAU3303M)

Quote from Australian Minister for Health and Ageing in 2012

"If there was something you could do now, as a parent, that would protect your children from a range of cancers and disease in the future when they are adults, wouldn't you do it?"

http://www.news.com.au/national/gardasil-cervical-cancer-vaccine-to-be-given-to-teenage-boys-in-world-first/story-fncynjr2-1226578239897

Policy Statements:

Infant male circumcision: An evidence-based policy statement

Open Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2012; 2: 79-92.

Brian J. Morris, Alex D. Wodak, Adrian Mindel, Leslie Schrieber, Karen A. Duggan, Anthony Dilley, Robin J. Willcourt, Michael Lowy, David A. Cooper, Eugenie R. Lumbers, C. Terry Russell, Stephen R. Leeder

ABSTRACT

Here we review the international evidence for benefits and risks of infant male circumcision (MC) and use this to develop an evidence-based policy statement for a developed nation setting, focusing on Australia. Evidence from good quality studies that include meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials showed that MC provides strong protection against: urinary tract infections and, in infancy, renal parenchymal disease; phimosis; paraphimosis; balanoposthitis; foreskin tearing; some heterosexually transmitted infections including HPV, HSV-2, trichomonas, HIV, and genital ulcer disease; thrush; inferior hygiene; penile cancer and possibly prostate cancer. In women, circumcision of the male partner protects against HPV, HSV-2, cervical cancer, bacterial vaginosis, and possibly Chlamydia. MC has no adverse effect on sexual function, sensitivity, penile sensation or satisfaction and may enhance the male sexual experience. Adverse effects are uncommon (<1%), and virtually all are minor and easily treated. For maximum benefits, safety, convenience and cost savings, MC should be performed in infancy and with local anesthesia. A risk-benefit analysis shows benefits exceed risks by a large margin. Over their lifetime up to half of uncircumcised males will suffer a medical condition as a result of retaining their foreskin. The ethics of infant MC and childhood vaccination are comparable. Our analysis finds MC is beneficial, safe and cost-effective, and should optimally be performed in infancy. In the interests of public health and individual well-being, adequate parental education, and steps to facilitate access and affordability should be encouraged in developed countries.

Author details:

Brian J. Morris, AM DSc PhD FAHA. Professor Emeritus, School of Medical Sciences and Bosch Institute, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006

Alex D. Wodak, AM FRACP FAChAM FAFPHM. Former Director, Alcohol and Drug Service, St Vincents Hospital, Sydney NSW 2010

Adrian Mindel, MB ChB MSc MD FRCP FRACP FAChSHM. Former Professor of Sexual Health Medicine, University of Sydney and Former Director of the Sexually Transmitted Infections Research Centre (STIRC), Westmead Hospital, Sydney NSW 2145

Leslie Schrieber, MB BS MD FRACP. Associate Professor, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney NSW 2065

Karen A. Duggan, BSc MBBS MD FRACP. Nephrologist, North Ryde NSW 2113

Anthony Dilley, MB BS FRACS. Paediatric surgeon, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, Sydney, NSW 2031

Robin J. Willcourt, MB BS FRANZCOG FACOG. Former Medical Director of Pregnancy Advisory Centre, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide SA 5011

Michael Lowy, MB BS MPH FAChSHM (RACP). Lecturer in Men's Health, University of New South Wales and University of Notre Dame Sydney; Director, Sydney Men's Health, Sydney NSW 2011

David A. Cooper, AO FAA MD DSc FRACP FRCPA FRCP. Director, The Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity in Society (formerly the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research), University of New South Wales and St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney NSW 2010

Eugenie R. Lumbers, AM MD BS DSc FAA. Emeritis Scientia Professor, University of New South Wales; School of Biomedical Sciences & Mothers & Babies Research Centre, University of Newcastle & Hunter Medical Research Institute, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle NSW 2300

C. Terry Russell, OAM MB BS. Inaugural President (2010-2017), Circumcision Foundation of Australia; General Practitioner, Russell Medical Centre, Macgregor, Qld 4109

Stephen R. Leeder, AO MD PhD BSc(Med) FRACP FAFPHM FFPH(UK) FRACGP(Hon). Former Director, Menzies Centre for Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, NSW 2006; Former Dean of Medicine; Former Editor, Medical Journal of Australia

Other Key Publications:

The 2010 Royal Australasian College of Physicians' policy statement 'Circumcision of infant males' is not evidence based.

Morris BJ, Wodak AD, Mindel A, Schrieber L, Duggan KA, Dilley A, Willcourt RJ, Cooper DA.

Intern Med J 2012; 42: 822-828

American Academy of Pediatrics

TASK FORCE ON CIRCUMCISION

2012 Policy statement recommends infant circumcision

The full report is available as a pdf

Early infant male circumcision: Systematic review, risk-benefit analysis, and progress in policy

Morris BJ, Kennedy SE, Wodak AD, Mindel A, Golovsky D, Schrieber L, Lumbers ER, Handelsman DJ, Ziegler JB.

World J Clin Pediatr 2017; 6: 89-102



(Read full Article)

Costs and effectiveness of neonatal male circumcision

Kacker S, Frick KD, Gaydos CA, Tobian AA.

Johns Hopkins University.

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2012; 166: 910-918

(Read full Article)