Male Circumcision Tied to Less Sexual Pleasure
By Andrew M. Seaman
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Feb 14 - Men circumcised either as
children or adults report less intense sexual pleasure and orgasm than their
uncircumcised counterparts, according to a new study from Belgium.
"We're not saying less sexual activity or satisfaction, but
sensitivity," said the study's senior researcher Dr. Piet Hoebeke, from
Ghent University Hospital.
The new study surveyed 1,369 men over the age of 18, who responded
to leaflets handed out in train stations across Belgium.
The men were asked whether they were circumcised, and were then
asked to rate how sensitive their penis was, how intense their orgasms were and
whether they experience any pain or numbness when aroused.
Overall, 310 men who took the survey were circumcised, and 1,059
were not. Each rated how sensitive their penis was on a scale from 0 to 5, with
higher numbers being the most sensitive.
Overall, uncircumcised men reported between 0.2 points and 0.4
points higher sensitivity and sexual pleasure when their glans was stroked
during arousal, compared to circumcised men.
For example, uncircumcised men reported an average sensitivity
score of 3.72 when they or their partner stroked the top part of the glans,
compared to 3.31 amongst circumcised men.
Uncircumcised men also reported more intense orgasms.
"It's not a very big difference in sensitivity, but it's a
significant difference," Dr. Hoebeke said.
Currently, about half of U.S. baby boys have their foreskin
surgically removed at birth, and about 30% of men around the world are
circumcised.
Some religions, such as Judaism and Islam, consider circumcision
part of religious practice, while other people choose circumcision for possible
health benefits - including a reduced risk of urinary tract infections (see
Reuters Health article of Dec. 7, 2012).
One possible explanation for any potential difference in
sensitivity is that a man's foreskin may protect the glans from rubbing against
underwear and clothing. It's possible, the researchers write, that friction
makes the head of the penis thicker, drier and ultimately less sensitive.
The researchers also found circumcised men were more likely to
report more pain and numbness during arousal than uncircumcised men, which Dr.
Hoebeke said is likely due to scar tissue.
"I'm amazed that people report pain during sexual pleasure...
That's very amazing and that was unexpected," he said.
BJU Int 2013.
Feb 14, 2013 - Reuters Health Information
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