US Circumcision Rate Drops

Fallen 10 percent in the last three decades

The circumcision rate for newborn males in the U.S. dropped 10 percent in the past three decades, amid fluctuating medical guidelines, changes in the immigrant population, and a growing movement that opposes the practice.

From 1979 to 2010, the rate of newborn circumcision declined to 58 percent from 65 percent, according to a report today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate was the highest in 1981, with 65 percent of male infants circumcised, and lowest in 2007, at 55 percent, the CDC said.