September 20, 2025 - A new analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics shows that newborn male circumcision (NMC) in U.S. hospitals decreased from 54.1% to 49.3% between 2012 and 2022. The decline was most pronounced among White newborns, while rates for Black and Hispanic infants remained largely stable. The study underscored factors such as parental skepticism, changes in Medicaid coverage, and regional differences as contributing to the trend.
Researchers reviewed more than 1.5 million hospitalizations of male neonates aged 0 to 28 days from 2012 to 2022 using data from the Kids’ Inpatient Database. They excluded babies with conditions such as penile abnormalities, prematurity, or bleeding disorders.
Key findings include:
The rate dropped by 5 percentage points overall (from 54.1% to 49.3%) over the study period. 1
Among White newborns, the rate fell from 65.3% in 2012 to 60.0% in 2022.
Rates for Black (64.9% to 66.1%) and Hispanic (21.2% to 21.0%) infants stayed relatively unchanged. 4
Declines appeared across income and insurance groups; infants in high-income ZIP codes and those with private insurance showed larger drops. 4
Commenting on the situation on the social media platform 'X,' formerly known as Twitter, Dr. Munish Kumar Raizada, MD, FAAP, highlighted the declining neonatal male circumcision rates in the US, attributing it mainly to growing parental distrust in medical advice, as reported by Johns Hopkins researchers.
Research has documented a few health benefits associated with male circumcision. A review article in PMC (Tobian & Gray, et al.) outlines these multiple advantages. 2
Some confirmed medical benefits include:
Reduced risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in infancy. UTIs are already uncommon in male infants, but they occur more frequently in uncircumcised boys. Circumcision lowers this risk, although the absolute number of cases prevented is small.
Lower incidence of certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs) later in life. Large randomized trials in Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa showed that adult male circumcision reduces the risk of heterosexual HIV acquisition by about 51% to 60%. These trials also demonstrated lower rates of genital herpes (HSV-2), human papillomavirus (HPV), and genital ulcer diseases among circumcised men. While these studies involved adults, the protective effect is thought to apply when circumcision occurs before sexual debut.
Protection against foreskin-related conditions. Circumcision eliminates the risk of phimosis (inability to retract the foreskin) and lowers the likelihood of penile inflammation, balanitis, and recurrent foreskin infections in childhood and beyond.
Possible reductions in risks for female partners. Evidence indicates that women with circumcised male partners have lower rates of high-risk HPV, bacterial vaginosis, and some other sexually transmitted infections.
Medical bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognize these potential benefits. WHO recommends circumcision in regions with high HIV prevalence as part of public health strategies. In the United States, the AAP and CDC conclude that the health benefits outweigh the risks overall, but they stop short of endorsing universal newborn circumcision. Instead, they advise that parents be given accurate, unbiased information to make an informed choice.
Although neonatal circumcision is generally considered safe when performed in medical settings by trained professionals, the procedure is not risk-free.
Early complications: The most common are minor bleeding and superficial infection at the surgical site. These occur in less than 1% of newborn circumcisions and are usually treatable without long-term effects. Serious complications such as significant bleeding or injury to the penis are extremely rare. 3
Later complications: Some boys may develop meatal stenosis (narrowing of the urethral opening), penile adhesions, or skin bridges. Most of these are mild and manageable, but a small number may require corrective treatment. Cosmetic concerns, such as excess or uneven skin, can also arise in some cases. 3
Effectiveness limits: While circumcision reduces the risk of urinary tract infections in infancy, the overall risk of UTIs in healthy male babies is already very low. Estimates suggest that more than 100 circumcisions would need to be performed to prevent a single hospitalization for UTI.
Ethical considerations: Because the procedure removes foreskin tissue before the child can provide consent, circumcision raises ongoing ethical and social debates. Parents often weigh potential medical benefits against concerns about bodily autonomy, cultural traditions, and personal values.
Experts and researchers point to several reasons for declining rates:
Parental skepticism about medical recommendations has increased. Trust in medical advice appears to have decreased among certain populations. 1
Changes in insurance coverage, especially Medicaid policies. Some states stopped covering neonatal circumcision, creating financial barriers for low-income families. 1
Cultural, ethical, or personal value shifts, where parents weigh non-medical concerns such as consent, bodily autonomy, and procedure discomfort. 1
The decline in neonatal circumcision rates does not by itself indicate reduced health. Many parents who opt against it may instead focus on hygiene and regular medical care, which can help reduce some risks.
Ultimately, circumcision remains a personal choice, and parents are encouraged to weigh medical evidence, cultural values, and ethical considerations when deciding.
Yang, Ping; Xianming Zhu; Eshan U. Patel; Thomas C. Quinn; Mary K. Grabowski; Aaron A. R. Tobian. “Trends in Circumcision Among Newborn Males in the US.” JAMA Pediatrics, published online September 15, 2025. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2838312
Tobian, Aaron A. R., and Ronald H. Gray, et al. “The Medical Benefits of Male Circumcision.” PMC, 2011. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/ PMC3684945/
American Urological Association. “Circumcision.” AUA statements on neonatal circumcision risks and benefits. https://www.auanet.org/about-us/aua-statements/circumcision
Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Newborn Male Circumcision Rates in U.S. Dropped Between 2012 and 2022.” Press release, September 15, 2025. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases/2025/09/johns-hopkins-study-newborn-male-circumcision-rates-in-us-dropped-between-2012-and-2022
(Rh/Eth/TL/MSM)
