Please note that all credit card and PayWave payments now incur a 1.99% surcharge. All immigration and surgical services are payable on the day so please bare this in mind if you plan to use your credit or PayWave card.
Circumcision is a common surgical procedure involving the removal of the foreskin from the penis. It can be performed for a variety of medical, cultural, religious, or personal reasons, and is available for both babies and adults across New Zealand.
At CityMed Auckland, our circumcision services are carried out by experienced doctors in a safe, sterile, and supportive clinical environment. We understand that the decision to proceed with circumcision is personal, and our role is to provide clear information, compassionate care, and evidence-based guidance.
In New Zealand, Auckland circumcision procedures are sought for many different reasons — from improving hygiene and reducing recurrent infections, to fulfilling religious or cultural traditions, or simply personal preference. Whether performed during infancy, childhood, or adulthood, circumcision is generally a straightforward procedure with a short recovery period when done by skilled professionals.
The following information outlines the most common reasons for circumcision, what to expect before and after the procedure, and the potential risks and benefits to help individuals and families make an informed choice.
1. Hygiene
Some parents believe that it is more hygienic or at least it is easier to care for a boy's penis if it is circumcised.
Infection or inflammation of the foreskin affects 3%-4% of uncircumcised boys. This means that 96%-97% of all boys will not have any problems with infection of the foreskin - urinary tract infections occur in about 1-2 in 100 uncircumcised boys, and 1 in 500 in circumcised boys.
There is an increased risk of inflammation and infections of the foreskin and glans in uncircumcised males. However it will come down to personal opinion whether the increased risks are significant enough to warrant circumcision. As stated above it is the opinion of the medical fraterenity that routine circumcision is not medically justified.
2. Other infections
Uncircumcised adults have an additional increase in the risk of foreskin infection, such as candida (thrush) especially if they also have diabetes.
There have been studies that have shown that some sexually transmitted infections (STIs), particularly herpes, gonorrhea and syphilis, are less frequent in circumcised men. Other STIs such as - NSU and genital warts have similar rates in both groups, one recent study suggests NSU may be higher in circumcised men.
Studies from Africa have shown that circumcised men are at less risk of becoming HIV infected than uncircumcised men however this is not reproduced in USA studies. The suggestion has been put forward that the reason for this is that there is a different HIV subtype in Africa than in developed countries, which may account for the difference.
However circumcision cannot be promoted as a protection from contracting any STI including HIV.
3. Religious Reasons
Circumcisions for religious reasons date back to Biblical times and the story of Abraham circumcising himself and his sons as a sign of his devotion to God. Jews and Muslims continue this custom to this day and firmly believe that circumcision is an integral part of their religion.
Other religious groups also continue the practice of circumcision to a greater or lesser degree.
4. Cultural Reasons
Some cultures strongly believe in circumcision, and circumcision is an integral part of their culture. Notably the Pacific Islanders in New Zealand have an almost 100% circumcision rate. The Pacific Islanders traditionally choose to have circumcision performed in late childhood or early puberty as a rite of passage to manhood.
5. Medical Reasons
A small number of males will need to have circumcision for medical reasons because of recurrent inflammation and infection to the foreskin and glans. This can produce tightening of the foreskin (phimosis) that makes it difficult or impossible to retract the foreskin, which leads to poor hygiene and further infections.
Circumcision or dorsal slit (which is dividing the foreskin on the upper side of the penis to make the foreskin easier to retract) are the only solutions if the problem is not able to be resolved with medications.
6. Social/Sexual
Some men seek to have circumcision because they or their partners prefer to have a circumcised penis. Some of the reasons found for this request are that the foreskin is very tight with an erect penis but may not be a problem when the penis is not erect. In some cases the foreskin can tear with an erection.
Some couples complain of the smell of the smegma especially with oral sex (fellatio) before circumcision. Others state that they just prefer the appearance of a circumcised penis to a non-circumcised penis.
7. Cancer Risk
There is a 1 in 100,000 risk of getting cancer of the penis in uncircumcised men. This is not a high risk and I have not had anyone have a circumcision to prevent cancer as a reason.
The frequency of circumcision varies from country to country. In New Zealand and Australia the rate is approximately 10-20% of boys but as mentioned above there are significant cultural differences. Rates of circumcision, for comparison, are much higher in the USA - up to 60% -, 6% in the UK and in Europe the rate is lower at less than 2% in some countries.
Circumcision can be performed under local anesthetic (penile block), with or without sedation, or under general anesthesia. It is not recommended that circumcision be done without anesthetic, because even newborns can feel pain and show measurable physiological responses. For children aged about 6 months to 10 years, it is often difficult to perform the procedure under local anesthetic, as they may not remain still while injections are given; in this age group, general anesthesia is usually required. Local anesthetic is generally the preferred option for babies and is also successfully used in older boys and men.
There are a number of methods for removing the foreskin, and each surgeon has their preferred technique, which may vary depending on the patient’s age. At our hospital, we use a specialized circumcision tool for babies to minimize bleeding and protect the penis during the operation. In older children and adults, circumcision is performed with surgical scissors, and absorbable sutures are used.
Postoperative care involves providing pain relief—usually paracetamol is sufficient—and keeping the operation site clean. Swelling of the penis is common in the first few days but typically settles within a week.
In Auckland clinics, procedures are safe, with low complication rates (2–10%).
Where can I get circumcision in Auckland?
Circumcision is available at a number of specialist clinics and hospitals in Auckland. At CityMed Medical Centre, we provide circumcision services for babies, children, teenagers, and adults, performed by experienced doctors in a safe, professional clinical setting. Our central Auckland location makes it convenient for families, and we offer clear guidance on preparation, procedure, and aftercare.
At what age can circumcision be done?
Circumcision can be performed at any age, from newborns through to adults. In Auckland, the most common times are in infancy for cultural or religious reasons, or later in childhood and adulthood for medical or personal reasons. At CityMed Medical Centre, our doctors provide circumcision for babies (0-6 months), children (above 10 year old), teenagers, and adults, with anesthesia tailored to the patient’s age group.
What is the recovery time after circumcision?
Most patients recover within 7–10 days. Swelling and mild discomfort usually settle in the first week, and normal activities can gradually resume after this period. Our team at CityMed in central Auckland provides clear aftercare instructions and follow-up support to ensure healing is smooth and complications are minimized.
Is circumcision painful?
No. Circumcision is always performed with appropriate anesthesia. Babies typically receive a local anesthetic (penile block), while older children may require general anesthesia. Adults can be treated with either local anesthetic or sedation. Pain relief is provided after the procedure, and most patients find that discomfort is mild and well-controlled. At CityMed, we ensure patient comfort and safety at every stage of the process.
How Do I Care For The Foreskin If Circumcision Is Not Done?
These are the cleaning instructions that we provide to our patients. The foreskin should be cleaned at each bath time, just like any other part of the body. This should be done by gently pulling the foreskin back as far as it will go without using force (as force may cause the foreskin to tear) and gently cleaning any material trapped underneath. Over time, the foreskin will gradually retract further until it becomes completely free.
Once a boy is old enough to wash himself, he should be taught to clean under the foreskin daily. We also advise boys to develop the habit of pulling the foreskin back when urinating so that urine does not pass through the foreskin. This helps reduce irritation and infection. However, they must remember to pull the foreskin forward again after finishing.
Or call us Monday to Friday 8am-5:30pm
