Alice,
I had it done about 10 months ago and wish I'd gone for it decades ago. I'm a man in my fifties without a sexual partner, but my (solo) sex life has improved enormously since then....
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Alice,
I'm a guy who's considering being circumcised. What sort of health benefits are there to the procedure? Are there any drawbacks? Also, how much of the foreskin is removed? A little bit? Most of it? All of it, right down to the base of the head? Or what?
—Considering Clipping
Dear Considering Clipping,
Circumcision is the surgical removal of all or part of the foreskin, the skin that covers the head of the penis. The procedure is usually performed for religious, cosmetic, and/or hygienic reasons. Circumcision also can alleviate problems that arise from certain medical conditions, such as phimosis, where the foreskin is so narrow that it is difficult, if not impossible, and painful, to pull back. As a medical procedure, circumcision has both health benefits and risks.
Critics of adult circumcision point to its disadvantages, among which include:
- temporary pain after the operation (this is true for any surgery)
- temporary irritation of the glans (the head of the penis)
- different and/or decreased sensation during sex
- risk of complications and/or surgical errors (again, as with any surgery)
Also, for what it's worth, health care providers recommend that after circumcision a man abstains from any kind of sexual activity for four to six weeks to allow for a full recovery. In fact, even having an erection in this period of time after the procedure can cause complications, such as discomfort, pain, and disruption of the sutures. Moreover, some men may find arousal, erection, and/or ejaculation to be so uncomfortable that they may not mind the break from sex.
Proponents of adult circumcision advocate it for a number of reasons, including:
- cleanliness or ease of maintaining hygiene
- slightly reduced risk of getting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV — the virus that causes AIDS) and human papillomavirus (HPV — the virus that causes genital warts)
Regular cleaning of the foreskin and the glans, however, usually alleviates most potential hygienic problems. Additionally, safer sex techniques are much more effective in preventing STIs than circumcision.
Some critics may also argue that after the surgery, some men may find that their penises just aren't what they used to be, aesthetically speaking. On the other hand, some advocates of circumcision may believe that circumcised penises are better looking. In the end, it comes down to personal preference.
Given the fact that the health benefits of circumcision are negligible or unclear, consulting with a health care provider before deciding to have the procedure done is highly recommended. If circumcision is the final choice, then a person can discuss a variety of topics about the operation (including the amount of foreskin that is removed) with the surgeon, usually a urologist, before the procedure.
May 28, 2009
Alice,
I had it done about 10 months ago and wish I'd gone for it decades ago. I'm a man in my fifties without a sexual partner, but my (solo) sex life has improved enormously since then. Masturbation without a foreskin does require the use of lubrication, but the orgasms are much, much better. Yes, the glans loses some sensitivity, but if you've had a tight foreskin all your life — as I had — your glans has been over-sensitive to the point where it couldn't tolerate direct stimulation. I had increasingly frequent infections up until last year, but not a single problem since then. Yes, you'll be uncomfortable for a week or two, and it took me about 6 weeks before I could masturbate comfortably and maybe 3 months before I could begin to enjoy the full benefits. But it's definitely worth it!
December 4, 2008
To the reader:
The foreskin is composed of special, erogenous nerve cells, and it provides a comfortable sheath within which your glans is stimulated. If you get circumcised, you will lose the...
To the reader:
The foreskin is composed of special, erogenous nerve cells, and it provides a comfortable sheath within which your glans is stimulated. If you get circumcised, you will lose the "extra data" these nerves provide your brain, and the mechanics of sexual stimulation will change for you and your partner — not always for the better, according to some.
Mostly, those who choose to get circumcision later in life are those who have a problem with their foreskins, such as phimosis or some sexually transmitted disease, though both of these problems are treatable without circumcision. If these are not your problem, it's probably best to keep yourself clean and enjoy your foreskin — a man without a foreskin can never enjoy his foreskin.