00:00 The podcast discusses the controversy surrounding male circumcision and a proposed referendum in San Francisco to ban the practice.

04:58 In the United States, the rate of male circumcision has been decreasing, with about 33% of boys being circumcised in 2009, and this decline is attributed to factors such as the increasing presence of Hispanics in the country who are less likely to circumcise their male infants.

09:59 Circumcision is the removal of the foreskin of the penis, which covers the tip of the penis and is connected to the glands by a piece of connective tissue called the frenulum, and the foreskin contains nerve cells, nerve bundles, blood, and special blood cells that make the penis more sensitive and aids in stimulation and lubrication, but it can also cause problems such as smegma buildup, phimosis, and being too loose.

14:38 Circumcision is mainly recommended for medical reasons such as phimosis, para-phymosis, ballooning post thesis, and tight frenulum, but it is rarely medically necessary and is mostly done for cultural or sociological reasons.

19:23 Circumcision is practiced by various cultures and religions around the world, with different ages and methods for performing the procedure, and in some cases, there is a higher risk of complications due to lack of trained professionals and proper equipment.

24:20 The circumcision procedure for infants involves strapping the baby down, numbing the area with either a topical anesthetic or injection, and using devices like the GOMCO clamp, Mogan clamp, or Plastibel device to separate the foreskin from the glands and remove it, with a recovery period of about three to four days and the need for careful hygiene to prevent infection.

28:57 Circumcision has been found to help prevent or protect against HPV, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV transmission, but the perception that it is cleaner or prettier is unsupported medically.

33:56 There are risks of scarring and infection, and in rare cases, a bad circumcision can result in the loss of the penis; there are also non-surgical methods to recreate a foreskin, but one argument against circumcision is that it takes away a child's right to choose and can potentially lead to psychological repercussions.

38:16 Female genital mutilation is a big problem around the world, with no medical reason for doing it, and the World Health Organization has issued statements against it, but it still continues to happen in the US, Great Britain, and among minority African populations that emigrate to these countries.

43:15 The hosts read listener stories about finger injuries and missing fingers.