Almost 30% of men around the world are sexually circumcised, whether for cultural, religious or medical reasons. What is circumcision, and does it affect the sensitivity of the penis, and therefore affect sexuality?

Circumcision is a surgical operation that involves the total or partial removal of the skin of the foreskin. The foreskin is the upper part of the tip of the penis, which is used to cover the glans. Thus, a circumcised male sex no longer possesses or only part of the glans, leaving the latter “bare”.

Circumcision is nowadays practiced for cultural and religious purposes, in particular within the framework of a practice of Judaism or Islam, or for medical and hygiene purposes. For example, an ablation of the foreskin can be done to treat phimosis, a condition of the penis that prevents the glans from retracting during erection, or in the event of an inability to retract due to a too tight foreskin. Finally, some people believe that a circumcised penis is synonymous with better hygiene, although this claim is not supported by convincing scientific studies.

A circumcised penis, whether it is partially or entirely devoid of its foreskin, therefore always has part of the glans exposed. After a healing period when the area is very fragile, the glans, which is no longer covered by the skin, is considered to be more sensitive, due to the lack of skin protection.

At first, the sensations of friction, especially against textiles, or contact with air may seem disturbing, even unpleasant. However, this sensation disappears over time, as the skin of the glans gets used to the contact and thickens slightly there. Over the long term, studies have shown that a circumcised penis is not more sensitive or responsive to pain or pleasure, and therefore there is no noticeable difference at the sensory level.

Does a circumcised man feel more or less pleasure than a man with an unoperated penis? It seems that circumcision has no direct effect on male sexuality. As we have just seen, there is no consequence at the sensory level, the foreskin not being a particularly sensitive part of the penis, at least in the same way as the rest. Thus, sexual pleasure or orgasm are in no way impacted. The same goes for erectile functions: circumcision in no way affects the capacity for erection, nor the duration of it.

Here again, it would seem that circumcision has no direct effect on female sexuality. Indeed, once erect, it is almost impossible to differentiate a circumcised penis from a non-operated penis. Whether during penetration or oral sex for example, circumcision has no effect on the sensations felt for the sexual partner. On the contrary, manual masturbation of the penis can even be made easier, since there is no risk of injuring your partner by pulling too hard on the foreskin and access to the glans is immediate. Finally, it seems that circumcision is a (partial) protection against certain sexually transmitted infections, as we will see below.

Some studies, relayed by American health authorities, recommend circumcision for preventive purposes. In fact, circumcised men are less likely to be infected with certain STIs or viruses, such as HIV. This is due to the removal of a wetland (the foreskin), an environment that promotes the survival and reproduction of viruses. However, this operation does not replace a secure protection such as a condom. Thus, total or partial circumcision would present more benefits than risks, making the operation favorable. Despite these recommendations, however, there is no obligation or need to be circumcised, this operation remaining an intimate and private subject, the decision of which is up to everyone.