This article considers the procedure known as male circumcision. This is practised throughout the world for a variety of reasons, including medically essential reasons, health promotion, health protection, cultural, religious and aesthetic. It has been estimated that approximately one-third of the male population has been circumcized. As with some other surgical interventions its use is controversial, and there are a number of ethical and moral issues that are of interest to the children's nurse. The anatomy and physiology of the prepuce is summarized and the practice of circumcision and some of the risks and proposed benefits of the procedure are considered. This article is intended to be culturally sensitive and it is hoped that it will inform others and provoke discussion. It may enable the children's nurse to raise awareness of the issues among the general population.