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Circumcision in children

Checked: 23-07-2023 by Vicky Ryan Next Review: 23-07-2025

Circumcision for phimosis

In children less than 10 years phimosis is usually physiological. If uncomplicated and there is no evidence of scarring it will usually resolve without treatment.

In children 10 years and over then referral for circumcision may be indicated if there are symptoms, and management in primary care has proved ineffective (see policy for details).

In either case referral for circumcision is subject to the CBA policy below:

Penile Conditions – Surgical Opinion and Treatment including Circumcision in Patients under the age of 16 CRITERIA BASED ACCESS Policy

Please only refer if indicated by the policy and the criteria are met.

For advice on circumcision in adults please see the Adult section of Remedy:

Circumcision in Adults

Circumcision for personal, cultural or religious reasons

Circumcision in boys for personal, cultural or religious reasons is not available on the NHS.

If circumcision is requested for non-medical reasons then please direct to an approved private provider of circumcision.

Currently the ICB is not aware any approved providers in the BNSSG area (August 2023).

The following providers do not currently accept referrals:

Bristol Circumcision Service - Eastville - please note the service is not currently accepting referrals (July 2023).
GPcare do not offer a circumcision service for non-medical reasons.

Other private providers may be available but please be aware that there are some unlicensed and unregulated providers that should not be used.

Efforts are made to ensure the accuracy and agreement of these guidelines, including any content uploaded, referred to or linked to from the system. However, BNSSG ICB cannot guarantee this. This guidance does not override the individual responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or guardian or carer, in accordance with the mental capacity act, and informed by the summary of product characteristics of any drugs they are considering. Practitioners are required to perform their duties in accordance with the law and their regulators and nothing in this guidance should be interpreted in a way that would be inconsistent with compliance with those duties.

Information provided through Remedy is continually updated so please be aware any printed copies may quickly become out of date.