During the 32-year period of 1979 through 2010, circumcision of newborn boys declined by 10 percent from 64.5 percent to 58.3 percent. The highest rates of circumcision occurred in 1981, with 64.9 percent of male babies in the United States receiving the procedure. The year 2007 saw the lowest rate, with only 55.4 percent receiving the procedure during their birth hospitalization. These rates do not include circumcisions performed outside of a hospital setting  or performed at any age following discharge from the hospital.

Rates fluctuated during this time period, with a decline in the 1980s, an increase in the 1990s and another decline in the early 21st century. These changes correlate with a change in guidance in regards to routine circumcision in newborns. In the 1970s the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reports said there was no medical indication for routine circumcisions. The AAP changed their stance on the issue in 1989, stating that they believed there were potential medical benefits to having the procedure performed. Again, in 1999, the AAP changed their recommendations again, stating that despite potential benefits there was insufficient evidence to recommend routine circumcision of newborns.

Newborn circumcision rates in the four U.S. census regions showed distinct differences in patterns. Newborns in the Northeast showed no patterns during the 32-year time frame, even though annual rates varied between 60.7 percent in 2007 and 69.6 percent in 1994. Midwest trends were similar to the national rate with a decline in the mid-1980s, an increase until 1998 and another decline in 2010. In the South, rates increased from 1979 until 1998 before declining. Those rates ranged from 53.8 percent in 1988 to 66.1 percent in 1995. In the West, trends were very different with a 37 percent decrease in 2010. Most of that decrease occurred in the 1980s, with rates dropping to 41 percent in 1989. Rates continued to decrease through 2010, with 2003 seeing the lowest rate of 31.4 percent.

This information is based on data collected by NHDS. The study was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) from 1965 through 2010. Data on newborn circumcision performed shortly after birth has been collected in NHDS since 1979, when the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification was instituted. NHDS is the only source of reliable, national, historical data on male newborn circumcision performed during birth hospitalization.

Newborn circumcision rates from 1979 to 2010 were analyzed using a statistical software program that detects discontinuities in trend lines and tests whether or not changes in the slope of the trend line are statistically significant.