Caring Birmingham Circumcision Clinic

We use a local anaesthetic before we start the operation and give it several minutes to work. The process of injecting a local anaesthetic can cause a momentary sting which makes most babies cry. Beyond this point, the penis will feel numb and the operation is virtually pain free.

Once the anaesthetic sets in, the entire penis will feel numb. This makes the procedure virtually pain free. However, this doesn’t guarantee that your son won’t cry. They may become frustrated with the legs being held, or they may feel hungry and subsequently cry. It may also be possible that your son will sleep throughout the whole procedure - this is something we see regularly.

You will need to bring your child’s birth certificate, red book, and photographic identification documents for both mother and father. We also need your child’s NHS number, which is usually found in the red book. If you don’t have this, then your child’s GP can provide it to you. You will also need to bring a clean nappy for us to apply after the operation.

If one or both parents are not able to be present, a signed consent letter will be required alongside proof of signature. Click here to see an example of a consent letter.

Single mothers must demonstrate full custody and parental rights if they are the sole parent. In the case of single fathers, we will require some form of documentation to confirm that the mother has given consent or that court approval has been granted.

Unfortunately, we are unable to proceed with the operation if there is disagreement between mum and dad about the operation. Both parents will need to agree.

Before the operation, we will take you to a private room to check your documents, discuss the operation, the benefits, the risks and to make sure you are happy to go ahead. We will need both parents to be present for the consent.

Having either mum or dad in the room can be helpful in comforting your child. We therefore allow for one parent to be present during the operation to help comfort the child. If you don’t want to come in, that is also acceptable. If you do decide to come in, you must be prepared for your child to cry at some point during the operation. You may also see some blood if you look at what the operator is doing. If this is something you cannot handle, we would advise you not to come in.