Snip, Snip, Hooray? What To Know About Adult Male Circumcision In Singapore
WARNING: This article contains references to medical procedures and includes graphic details that may be unsettling for some readers.
Alright, let’s cut to the chase – adult male circumcisions might not be the most common conversation starter, but let’s be real, we’ve all been a little curious about it at some point. And whether you’re looking to separate fact from fiction or just curious about the long and short of it, we’ve got you covered.
ICYDK, as of a report published in 2016, the circumcision rate for males aged 15 and older in Singapore was around 14.9%. While most men undergo the procedure for religious reasons, others do it due to medical conditions such as phimosis – a congenital narrowing of the foreskin that prevents it from being retracted.
Dr Muhammad Taufiq bin Rashid from TAF Clinic Singapore. | IMAGE: TAF CLINIC SINGAPORE
To get the naked truth about adult male circumcision, we sat down with Dr Muhammad Taufiq bin Rashid from TAF Clinic Singapore. The 43-year-old graduated in 2006 from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, and has performed circumcisions for the past five years.
In our candid and eye-opening chat, he snips myths in the bud, dishes out some surprising trivia, and tells us about some of his most unforgettable cases.
What's the most common scenario for guys before the procedure?
Nervousness. A majority will ask, "Is it painful? During and also after the procedure?" It depends on the individual – most are okay, but some remain nervous all the way through.
But in most cases, after the procedure is completed, they'll be like, "Oh, it's done already?" Because they realise they didn't feel anything and were worried for nothing.
How do you help patients relax?
Because everyone's different, I just ask them, "What do you need to relax?" They can play with their phone, browse TikTok, or use a stress ball. But usually, the procedure is quite fast (about 10 to 15 minutes), they don't have to worry for too long.
From your experience, how old are most of the men who get circumcised?
The majority of my patients are in their 30s, but the age range is quite broad. I’ve had guys in their 20s, and even some well beyond their 50s. Most do it for medical reasons.
The oldest patient I've had was 76. He had wanted to do it for 20 years but never got around to it. One day, he came to my clinic and said, “I want to do it today.”
I’ve also had a few who came in because their wife or girlfriend asked them to. It's just their partner’s preference.
And during the school holidays, I see more kids. It's seasonal.
IMAGE: CANVA
If it's a medical reason, what's the most common one?
Phimosis – tight foreskin. A lot of adults in Singapore don't know they're supposed to pull back the foreskin, even into their 20s or 30s. Some only realise there’s an issue when they get married and find they have problems during sex because the foreskin is too tight, causing pain.
Any strange requests from patients (both pre-op and post-op)?
Some will ask, “Oh, don't cut too much”, or “Maybe leave more skin.” I advise them based on my examination to see if that’s suitable – it may not be for everyone.
Others ask to take a photo of the foreskin, and some even want to bring it home. But usually, we dispose of it after removal.
Obviously, recovery takes time. But do patients listen?
Some don’t. I don't know why some adults think they can get circumcised and return to normal life the next day. Some even plan to straight back to work. They think it's [no biggie] – until they come back for a check-up and everything is swollen.
Yikes! So what are some proper aftercare tips?
Most guys with phimosis aren’t used to proper hygiene. If they don't clean themselves properly, a lot of dead skin and gunk accumulate in the area, which affects healing and recovery. Just keep it clean, remove any dead skin, and the healing process will be much smoother.
IMAGE: CANVA
Other than the worry of pain, what about sexual satisfaction and performance after circumcision?
Some say sensitivity is reduced. I mean, yes, but it doesn't affect sexual satisfaction. Studies polling circumcised men have shown conclusively that it has no impact on sexual enjoyment.
What are some of your most memorable cases?
There was one patient who was quite obese. In some obese men, the penis is embedded inside the tummy fat, I had to push – or rather, get my nurse to push – the tummy down so I could access it.
Then, there was another case that wasn’t meant to be a circumcision, but I ended up doing an emergency circumcision. The patient had paraphimosis (where the foreskin can’t be pulled back over the tip). Normally, we manually pull the skin forward after applying numbing cream. But in this case, his foreskin was so sensitive that while pulling it forward, the skin broke and started bleeding. It was literally bleeding everywhere, so I had no choice but to proceed with circumcision.
There are cases where the foreskin is too tight, affecting their sex life. And circumcision, they can finally have normal sex. I’ve also seen patients with severe genital warts, where circumcision helped remove them completely.
Then, there were cases where men thought they had a lump in their penis. Because their foreskin was too tight, I couldn’t examine it properly. So I suggested circumcision to check what was inside. Twice, I found what we call “pearls” – solidified smegma that had hardened into shiny, pearl-like formations.
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