Urology doctors in Shanghai have issued a strong public warning against risky do-it-yourself circumcision trends circulating online, after treating a young patient with massive bleeding caused by self-performed genital surgery.
Recently, a 24-year-old man was rushed to the emergency department of Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital in critical condition with unstoppable genital hemorrhage. Suffering from recurrent discomfort due to redundant prepuce, he learned so-called “self-circumcision tutorials” from online forums. Without professional knowledge, sterile equipment, or anesthesia, he attempted the procedure at home using ordinary household scissors.
Immediately after cutting, he experienced severe pain and profuse bleeding. Panicked attempts to stop the bleeding with paper towels failed. By the time he arrived at the hospital, his clothes were fully soaked in blood, with clots surrounding the open wound. Clinical evaluation confirmed he had lost around 300 to 400 milliliters of blood.
Dr Xie Tiancheng performed urgent debridement, suturing and tetanus vaccination. Thanks to timely emergency treatment, the patient avoided hemorrhagic shock and long-term damage, and recovered fully after two days of hospital observation.
Doctors stressed that home circumcision involves multiple life-threatening hidden dangers. First, non-sterilized household tools introduce bacteria, sharply raising the risk of severe wound infection. Second, untrained manual cutting may injure the organs, possibly leading to permanent urinary or sexual dysfunction. Third, uncontrolled massive bleeding under unanesthetized conditions can trigger shock and cause severe physical and psychological trauma.
Physicians added that such dangerous self-treatment cases are not isolated. The hospital has previously treated patients with serious complications after using online-purchased circumcision devices for unsupervised home surgery.
To correct public misconceptions, Dr Xu Yunfei, deputy director of the Urology Department, released standardized medical guidance on circumcision indications for different age groups.
For children aged 3 to 6, phimosis and redundant prepuce are mostly physiological. Regular observation and gentle daily cleaning are adequate for most kids. Surgery is only necessary for those with recurrent balanitis, poor urination, excessive smegma or obvious bulging during micturition.
During puberty, persistent phimosis or tight foreskin may restrict penile development and trigger repeated inflammation, requiring professional surgical intervention.
For adults, phimosis is generally recommended for surgical correction. Surgery is also advised for redundant foreskin with tight openings, erection constriction or frequent local infections. However, simple redundant foreskin with no symptoms and proper daily hygiene requires no medical treatment.
Medical authorities remind the public that all genital operations must be performed in formal medical institutions by professional clinicians to avoid irreversible harm.
