**9. The optimum age for circumcision**

The third week is the best time for circumcision because pain is minimal, bleeding is minimal, wound healing is perfect, and the risk of infection and psychological effects are minimal because the blood is still loaded with maternal antibodies with the near sterility of the skin of the neonate.

Circumcision can be done at any later healthy period preferably before school age.

If it is confirmed that the uncircumcised male neonate is at a higher risk of serious urinary tract infection than the circumcised one and therefore, the operation should be done shortly after birth.

 Jewish ritual of circumcision on the eighth day is known to be more effective prophylaxis than procedures performed at the age between 4-14 years (Blandy, 1968).

However, operations performed at adolescence or later in life are completely attended with undesirable erections, protracted healing and infection (Arnaout et al., 1962).

In Muslim areas, circumcision is usually performed in the first few months of life. In Uganda and similarly in Kenya, circumcision age is 12-20 years.

Also, circumcision can be done in the first day of life provided no hypospadius, bleeding tendency or intersex is present.
