Circumcision refers to the practice where a person’s foreskin is removed through surgery. It is a mandatory religious practice in some religions like Islam and Judaism. Sometimes, medical conditions like phimosis (tight foreskin) and urinary tract infections (UTIs) lead to circumcision. If you have a circumcised penis, and are wondering whether it’ll have an effect on your sex life, then you have come to the right place.
There’s also some research to suggest that it reduces the risk of STDs, HIV and other infections. The major downside seems to be the fact that men who’re circumcised could feel less pleasure during sex because the foreskin has a lot of nerve endings. We talked to Men’s Health Physician and Medical Sex Therapist Dr Vijaysarathi Ramanathan and asked him more about the practice and whether it affected a man’s sex life:
Does circumcision make the penis more or less sensitive?
Dr Ramanthan: The foreskin and tip of the penis are very sensitive areas. Circumcision in infants and youngsters (who have never experienced having a foreskin) should not be much of a problem because they have programmed their mind and penis to be sensitive without the foreskin. However, if a person has experience having a foreskin and has to lose it later in life, they may feel it’s different and they are not getting the same pleasure as before.
Does it make oral sex harder?
Dr Ramanthan: There’s nothing to suggest that it makes oral sex any different. Again it depends on the individual has programmed his mind and sensations around the penis.
How does it in general affect the quality of life?
Dr Ramanthan: Body image is a key thing to consider. When men get circumcised at a later stage in their life, they could feel and see their penis looking different to what it used to be before surgery. The doctor performing such surgeries should explain this.
Does it prevent STDs? Or cause it? What about infections? Does it increase the rate of infections?
Dr Ramanthan: There is some protection against infections but there is still a big debate on whether it adds more benefit than wearing a condom. Hygiene is a key concern for men who are not circumcised. Again, if they can retract and clean with water, then it shouldn’t make any difference. Remember, cleaning with water is more than adequate and DO NOT use soap as it alters the pH and can cause some fungal infections.
Is circumcision medically warranted?
Dr Ramanthan: It’s only warranted when the foreskin is infected and person is unable to pass urine but a routine medical procedure it doesn’t have much value. The history of circumcision goes long back and one of the key reasons to do circumcision was to discourage boys from masturbating. This was a time when medical professionals were convinced that masturbation is the cause for infections like syphilis and that circumcision is the cure. Removing a piece of skin from a young boy, especially when he can’t make a decision for himself, is now seen as unethical and it breeches the sexual rights of that person. Each individual must be able to make an informed decision whether or not they want to circumcise.
Dr Ramanthan is a Men’s Health Physician and Medical Sex Therapist. He can be consulted on his site: www.sexualhealthindia.com.
Image source: Shutterstock
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