A nationwide study published in JAMA Pediatrics has concluded that male circumcision performed shortly after birth does not increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder. The findings offer clear reassurance to parents following years of public concern that was renewed by earlier observational studies and media coverage.
This renewed interest coincided with a significant rise in autism diagnoses across the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism prevalence grew from one in 150 children in 2000 to one in 31 eight-year-olds in 2022. Experts note it is still unclear whether autism is actually becoming more common or if medical professionals are simply better at detecting it.
To evaluate the potential link, researchers led by Monica McGrath from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health analyzed data from 2,771 boys across 14 U.S. locations participating in the nationwide ECHO Cohort study. Their key findings showed:
- 66% of the boys were circumcised before leaving the maternity hospital.
- 7% received an autism diagnosis, at an average age of 3.8 years.
- The autism rate was 6% among circumcised boys and 9% among uncircumcised boys.
After accounting for additional factors such as parental age and family history, researchers confirmed no significant association. They also checked for neonatal exposure to acetaminophen, but it occurred too rarely to analyze. McGrath noted that while circumcision appears safe regarding autism risk, her team will continue investigating other factors behind rising autism rates.
Difficult words
- reassurance — the action of making someone feel less worried or afraid
- coincide — to happen at the very same time as something elsecoincided
- prevalence — how common or widespread something is within a group
- evaluate — to judge or calculate the quality or importance of something
- association — a logical connection or relationship between two or more facts
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why is it important for medical researchers to test public concerns with clear data?
- What factors do you think might explain why autism diagnoses have increased in recent years?
- How can clear medical studies help parents make confident decisions about healthcare for their children?
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