Does Penis Circumcision Lessen Men's Sexual Pleasure?

Some people believe that a circumcised penis can lessen men's sexual pleasure. A recent study, however, rejected this belief. Apparently, the sensitivity of a man's organ remains more or less the same, regardless of whether or not they were circumcised.

Canadian researchers discovered that having foreskin does not make penises more sensitive to touch, heat, and pressure. The study, published in the Journal of Urology, tested penis sensitivity of 62 adult men with ages 18 to 37. Half of them underwent circumcision at birth while others still had their penises' natural foreskins.

"The idea out there is that if you have a circumcised penis, the head of the penis, or the tip of the penis is exposed," Dr. Caroline Pukall, a professor at Queen's University, told Global News. "It's supposed to be covered by the foreskin if you have one but if you don't, the sensitive tissue becomes hardened over time... therefore pleasure is less during sexual situations." 

Pressure Points

For the study, researchers used devices to touch multiple pressure points of the men's penises. The penile sensitivity tested by researchers focused on aspects like warmth detection, pain threshold, and tactile detection. They found that there is no difference between men's penile sensitivity regardless if they are circumcised or not circumcised.

Jennifer Bossio, the study's lead author, said the research's preliminary evidence proved that "the foreskin is not the most sensitive part of the penis," the Independent reported. For the study, the men's sexual capabilities and satisfaction were also tested for four weeks. No difference was found between the circumcised and uncircumcised men.

Benefits 'Outweigh The Risks'

An American Academy of Pediatrics task force published a statement in 2012 describing the benefit of circumcision against HIV. The statement indicated that "the health benefits of newborn male circumcision outweigh the risks," AAP News reported.

Newborn circumcision globally isn't chiefly done for medical purposes. Majority of newborns were circumcised to adhere to religious and cultural tradition, as well as familial identity and personal experience.

Parents didn't choose their babies to be circumcised just so they can prevent the risks of urinary tract infections or ulcerative sexually transmitted infections later on in the children's lives. Historically, circumcision was done to suppress boys' urges to masturbate. Muslim and Jewish people view circumcision as a vital part of their religious faith.

Rates Across Countries

In the United Kingdom, one in three men underwent the procedure, the Independent wrote. However, the National Health Service, or NHS, considered circumcision as medically unnecessary, and so boys' operation costs were not covered.

Because of this, the number of circumcised British boys decreased, with only 8.5 percent of them circumcised as of late. In the United States, on the other hand, 75 percent of adult males had their penises circumcised.