Adult Circumcision
Circumcision is a safe, routine procedure that removes the foreskin, the skin covering the head of the penis. Families and adults across BC choose it for health and hygiene, to treat a medical condition, or for religious, cultural, or personal reasons. At Fulcrum Health, experienced clinicians provide comfortable circumcision for newborns, children, teens and adults, starting with a consultation to answer your questions and plan the right care for you or your child.
Book nowAdult Circumcision in Vancouver
Adult circumcision is a day procedure that removes the foreskin, the skin covering the head of the penis. Men choose it to treat a tight foreskin or recurring infections, or for personal, cultural, or religious reasons. At [Clinic name], Dr. Dewan performs adult circumcision under local anaesthetic at our South Vancouver clinic, steps from Marine Drive Station. He trained in circumcision with Dr. Jean-Philippe Bercier, Medical Director of the Bercier Clinic in Ottawa, and completed circumcision training at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto. Evening and weekend appointments are available.
Specialist-Trained Adult Circumcision
Dr. Dewan’s circumcision training combines two strengths:
- Bercier Clinic: He trained with Dr. Jean-Philippe Bercier, Medical Director of the Bercier Clinic, which provides newborn and adult circumcision across Ontario and Quebec.
- SickKids: He completed circumcision training at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, one of Canada’s leading children’s hospitals.
Every adult procedure is performed by Dr. Dewan himself, from your private consultation through follow-up care.
Can You Get Circumcised as an Adult?
Yes. Circumcision can be done safely at any age. Most adult procedures are done as a day case under local anaesthetic, so you go home the same day.¹ Every visit starts with a private consultation, where we assess your reasons, explain your options, and answer every question before you decide.
Reasons Adults Choose Circumcision
Medical Reasons
- Phimosis: a foreskin too tight to pull back over the head of the penis. It can cause pain during erections or sex, or make cleaning difficult.
- Recurring balanitis or balanoposthitis: repeated inflammation or infection of the head of the penis and foreskin.
- Lichen sclerosus: a skin condition that scars and tightens the foreskin. It may improve with a short course of steroid cream, but it often requires circumcision.²
- Paraphimosis: a foreskin that gets stuck behind the head of the penis. Circumcision prevents repeat episodes.
Personal, Cultural, and Religious Reasons
Many men choose circumcision for reasons of hygiene, appearance, or personal preference. Others choose it as part of their cultural or religious tradition, including:
- Brit milah (bris): In Judaism, circumcision is a covenant usually performed on the eighth day of life. Adult men converting to Judaism may also be circumcised as part of conversion.
- Khitan (khatna): In Islam, circumcision is a widely observed tradition. Timing varies by family and community, from infancy to later childhood, and some men choose it as adults.
- Tuli: In the Philippines, circumcision is a common rite of passage, traditionally done around the pre-teen or early teen years.
We provide the medical procedure in a clinical setting. If your tradition includes a religious ceremony or blessing, we’re happy to discuss timing so it can be arranged with your community or religious leader.
HIV and STI Prevention
In large randomized trials, circumcision substantially reduced men’s risk of acquiring HIV from female partners.³ How much this applies in Canada is less certain. Canadian urologists note the effect may be smaller here, and circumcision does not appear to protect men who have sex with men.³ An Ontario study of more than 569,000 males found no difference in HIV risk.⁴ Safer sex practices remain essential either way.
Your Assessment and Alternatives to Surgery
Your consultation starts with your history, any treatments you’ve already tried, and a private examination. Surgery isn’t always the first step. Depending on the cause, creams that reduce inflammation may relieve symptoms and help avoid circumcision.⁵ If you’ve tried those without success, or you’re choosing circumcision for personal reasons, we’ll walk you through the procedure, expected appearance, and recovery so you can decide with confidence.
Adult Circumcision Techniques
Dr. Dewan will recommend the technique that best suits your anatomy and goals.
- Conventional surgical circumcision: the most common approach for adults. Local anaesthetic is injected at the base of the penis, the foreskin is removed, and the edges are closed with dissolvable stitches.⁵ The stitches usually dissolve within 2 to 6 weeks.¹
- ShangRing circumcision: a sterile, single-use device made of two plastic rings that clamp the foreskin, so no stitches are needed. It’s done under local anaesthetic, and the ring is removed at a follow-up visit about one week later. The World Health Organization prequalified the ShangRing in 2015 as safe and effective for males aged 13 and older.⁶ In a large rollout of more than 1,000 procedures, the adverse event rate was 0.3%, and all devices were removed between days 5 and 11.⁷
Is Adult Circumcision Painful?
You’ll be awake but fully numb during the procedure, with local anaesthetic injected at the base of the penis.⁵ Afterward, most men manage discomfort with over-the-counter pain relief. The head of the penis feels sensitive for the first few weeks, and erections can be uncomfortable early in healing. Both settle with time.
Will Circumcision Affect My Sex Life?
It’s one of the most common questions we hear, and the research is reassuring.
- Sexual function: A meta-analysis of more than 18,000 men found no significant differences between circumcised and uncircumcised men in sexual desire, erectile function, premature ejaculation, or orgasm difficulties.⁸
- Satisfaction: A randomized trial of 4,456 men found that adult circumcision did not reduce sexual satisfaction or function.⁹
- Canadian guidance: Canadian urologists conclude there is no convincing evidence that adult circumcision harms sexual function.³
The head of the penis may become less sensitive over time, which some men notice during sex, but this should not have a major long-term effect on your sex life.¹
Preparing for Your Procedure
You’ll receive written preparation instructions before your appointment. Tell us about:
- All medications and supplements, especially blood thinners
- Allergies, including any reactions to anaesthetic
- Previous surgeries or any history of unusual bleeding
Don’t stop any medication unless Dr. Dewan advises it. Wear supportive briefs, and plan to rest at home for the remainder of the day.
Adult Circumcision Recovery Timeline
Recovery is gradual. Feeling ready for desk work doesn’t mean the wound is ready for exercise or sex.
| Time after procedure | What to expect |
|---|---|
| First 2 to 3 days | Swelling, bruising, and tenderness are normal. Rest and use pain relief as directed. |
| About 1 week | Most men return to work (sooner for desk jobs if comfortable).¹ ShangRing removal visit, if used. |
| About 2 weeks | Avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting until at least this point.¹⁰ |
| 4 weeks or more | No sex or masturbation for at least 4 weeks, or until fully healed.¹ |
| 4 to 6 weeks | Full healing for most men, though it can take longer.¹ |
Every recovery is different. We’ll tailor activity advice to your job and lifestyle, and you’ll have a direct number for questions.
Risks and Scarring
Serious complications from circumcision are uncommon.¹¹ Possible risks include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Wound healing problems
- Scarring or changes in appearance
- Stitches that don’t dissolve as expected
- Occasionally, the need for a second procedure¹
We’ll explain how each risk applies to you, and how any concern would be assessed and treated.
Adult Circumcision Cost and MSP Coverage in BC
BC’s Medical Services Plan covers medically required services.¹² Circumcision for personal, cultural, or religious reasons is generally paid privately. When circumcision is medically required, such as for lichen sclerosus or phimosis that hasn’t responded to treatment, coverage may apply, and we’ll help you confirm it. Before booking, you’ll receive a written quote covering the consultation, procedure, anaesthesia, and follow-up.
Book a Private Adult Circumcision Consultation
Fill out the Booking Form, and let us know the main reason for your visit. We’ll confirm the next steps, fees, and preparation instructions. Every consultation is private and confidential.
Address: 301-470 SW Marine Dr, Vancouver, BC V5X 0C7
Phone hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Appointments: Weekday, evening, and weekend times available
Need urgent care? If you can’t pass urine, have severe pain or swelling, or your foreskin is stuck behind the head of the penis and won’t move forward, go to the nearest emergency department right away. Don’t wait for a scheduled appointment.
References
- NHS. Circumcision [Internet]. London: National Health Service; [cited 2026 Oct 13]. Available from: https:
- McLarty R, Kiddoo D. Foreskin care in childhood. CMAJ. 2019;191(13):E365. doi:10.1503/cmaj.180875. PMID: 30936167.
- Dave S, Afshar K, Braga LH, Anderson P. Canadian Urological Association guideline on the care of the normal foreskin and neonatal circumcision in Canadian infants (abridged version). Can Urol Assoc J. 2018;12(2):18-28. doi:10.5489/cuaj.5034. PMID: 29381455.
- Nayan M, Hamilton RJ, Juurlink DN, Austin PC, Jarvi KA. Circumcision and risk of HIV among males from Ontario, Canada. J Urol. 2022;207(2):424-30. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000002234. PMID: 34551593.
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust. Having a circumcision: information for patients (URO005) [Internet]. Bath (UK): Royal United Hospitals Bath; [cited 2026 Oct 13]. Available from: https:
- World Health Organization. WHO prequalification of male circumcision devices public report: ShangRing [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2015 [cited 2026 Oct 13]. Available from: https:
- Odoyo-June E, Owuor N, Kassim S, Davis S, Agot K, Serrem K, et al. Rollout of ShangRing circumcision with active surveillance for adverse events and monitoring for uptake in Kenya. PLoS One. 2019;14(9):e0222942. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0222942. PMID: 31557208.
- Tian Y, Liu W, Wang JZ, Wazir R, Yue X, Wang KJ. Effects of circumcision on male sexual functions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Asian J Androl. 2013;15(5):662-6. doi:10.1038/aja.2013.47. PMID: 23749001.
- Kigozi G, Watya S, Polis CB, Buwembo D, Kiggundu V, Wawer MJ, et al. The effect of male circumcision on sexual satisfaction and function, results from a randomized trial of male circumcision for human immunodeficiency virus prevention, Rakai, Uganda. BJU Int. 2008;101(1):65-70. doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2007.07369.x. PMID: 18086100.
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Circumcision: patient information leaflet [Internet]. Norwich (UK): NNUH; [cited 2026 Oct 13]. Available from: https:
- Perera CL, Bridgewater FH, Thavaneswaran P, Maddern GJ. Safety and efficacy of nontherapeutic male circumcision: a systematic review. Ann Fam Med. 2010;8(1):64-72. doi:10.1370/afm.1073. PMID: 20065281.
- Government of British Columbia. Services covered by MSP [Internet]. Victoria (BC): Government of British Columbia; [cited 2026 Oct 13]. Available from: https:
Medically reviewed by Dr. Nikhil Dewan, MD, CCFP · Last updated: October 13, 2026
Adult Circumcision
Adult circumcision removes the foreskin covering the head of the penis. You may be considering it because of a foreskin concern, personal preference, or a cultural or religious reason. A consultation can help you understand whether surgery fits your goals and what other options should be considered.
Reasons adults consider circumcision
Some adults seek advice about a tight foreskin, repeated inflammation, discomfort or another change that concerns them. These symptoms can have different causes and need assessment. Other patients have no symptoms and are exploring circumcision for personal reasons. Explain what matters to you so the discussion can focus on your needs rather than a standard surgical promise.
Your assessment and alternatives
The clinician may review your history and examine the area before recommending a plan. Depending on the cause of symptoms, treatment may involve medicines, foreskin care, referral or surgery. Ask what each option is intended to achieve and what its limitations are. Circumcision is irreversible, so it is useful to discuss expectations about appearance, sensation and recovery before deciding.
What happens during adult circumcision
The treating clinician removes the foreskin using an approach suited to the patient and setting. Sutures or a device may be used depending on the method. Pain relief and anaesthesia should be explained before you consent. The procedure page provides an overview of the appointment, but your clinician should describe the technique actually planned for you.
Preparing for your procedure
Tell the clinician about all medicines and supplements, allergies, previous surgery and any unusual bleeding. Ask for instructions about food, drink and medicines rather than making changes yourself. Confirm whether someone must take you home and whether you need an adult with you afterward. The clinic should tell you what the appointment includes and how long to allow for assessment and observation.
Recovery work exercise and sexual activity
Recovery is gradual. Feeling ready for desk work does not mean that the wound is ready for strenuous activity or sexual activity. Discuss your job, exercise and other commitments in advance, and follow the treating clinician's restrictions. The recovery guide explains why activity advice and healing time vary and what questions to ask at follow-up.
Adult circumcision risks and scarring
Potential risks include bleeding, infection, wound problems, scarring and complications related to anaesthesia. Appearance and sensation may change, and personal experiences differ. Ask which risks matter in your case and how a concern would be assessed or treated. Read the side-effects guide for a balanced overview rather than relying on before-and-after images.
Cost and coverage questions
Request a written quote showing consultation, treatment, anaesthesia and follow-up charges. If there is a medical reason for treatment, ask whether referral or public coverage may apply. Do not assume that every adult procedure is publicly covered or that every clinic uses the same billing arrangements.
Arrange an adult circumcision consultation
Contact [Clinic name] through [Booking link] or [Clinic phone] to arrange a consultation. Share the main reason for your enquiry and any questions you want to discuss. Confirm the location, fees and assessment process. If you cannot pass urine, have severe pain or swelling, or the foreskin is stuck behind the head of the penis, seek urgent medical assessment immediately rather than waiting for an elective appointment.