CIRCUMCISION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin, the retractable skin that covers the penis head (glans). 

Most circumcisions are performed for religious or cultural reasons. The procedure is usually done right after birth or during adolescence. 

Circumcision can also be performed in response to various medical conditions, including phimosis, acute balanoposthitis, and paraphimosis.

DOES CIRCUMCISION HAVE ANY IMPACT ON SEX AND HEALTH?

Studies regarding the benefits of circumcision for health and sexual pleasure do not provide a clear and convincing answer. 

In some studies, circumcision appears to contribute to better hygiene and to reduce the risk of some sexually transmitted diseases.

The procedure has downsides, however: the risk of complications associated with any surgical procedure, physical and psychological pain, potential scarring, and negative effects associated with the lack of foreskin (for instance, some men who are circumcised after becoming sexually active complain of reduced sensitivity during sex).

Currently, due to the absence of clear evidence showing that the benefits of circumcision outweigh the risks and discomforts, none of the world’s leading medical associations recommend circumcision as a routine practice to be performed on newborns.

As far as circumcision’s impact on sex, there seems to be no clear answer to this question either. 

A lack of foreskin undoubtedly causes some dryness of the glans (penis head) and most likely reduces the glans’ sensitivity. 

Also, the potentially pleasurable gliding effect (the sliding of the foreskin over the glans) is obviously not possible. 

But whether or not these changes reduce sexual pleasure in circumcised men has not been clearly proven.