“Should the foreskin on a man’s penis stay or go?” That is the ultimate question asked by many parents these days. The issue on circumcision, also known as removal of the foreskin on a man’s penis, has always been a subject of many debates. For many, the foreskin plays an important role in the male genitals, which explains why it exists. On the other hand, there are others, who call for its removal due to hygienic reasons.
Dating back in the earlier times, men’s foreskins were all intact. During the Victorian era, doctors thought that foreskin curbed a man’s capacity to masturbate, which for them was an unhealthy practice.
Since then, circumcision has become a practice and even peaked during the 80’s due to social reasons. Today, many groups are advocating against it, which is why the number of circumcised men are slowly declining.
What’s With Circumcision, Anyway? And why Are There People Who Are For And Against It?
1. Pro: Circumcision Can Reduce The Risk Of Getting Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
Yes, you read that right. Admit it. Nowadays, it is hard to say no and abstain from sex. Come on. That’s just impossible. That is why if you can’t stay away from sex, at least use some protection to prevent the spreading of unwanted diseases.
If you still have your foreskin intact, then you should know that you have higher chances of getting STDs. Where else do you think will the virus be trapped? The truth is, circumcision can prevent the growth underneath the foreskin, which can cause STDs. This can also offer some protection from diseases not just for you, but also for your mate since the unwanted agents have nowhere to go.
In fact, getting HIV is lowered by about 40 percent, with about 35 percent for genital warts and 30 percent for herpes simplex type 2. This can even reduce the risk of your female partner against other types of STDs.
Still, this does not mean you should not use condoms every time you have sex, especially with any random girl. Just because the disease-causing agents are not trapped underneath the foreskin, the skin-to-skin contact can still result in STDs.
You never know what you can get, especially when you’re having one night stands, so it’s better to keep yourself protected – at all times.
2. Con: Keeping Your Foreskin Means You Need To keep It Clean, Too
Let’s face it: not many men are into hygiene. As soon as they shampoo their hair and wash their body with soap, that’s it, they’re done. They are good to go. In other words, men want a maintenance-free body, including down there. Do you know a guy who shampoos his pubes down there?
Well, not if you are an uncircumcised dude. The foreskin is still part of your body, which means you need to take care of it and clean it, too. This means spending a few minutes of extra hygiene in the bathroom to get rid of bacteria trapped underneath it.
Why? Because normal secretions accumulate beneath the foreskin. This means you need to retract the attached skin and gently remove the secretions that could lead to infection. Of course, this is an isolated case. Still, do you want to go through this process of treating yourself due to infections? Therefore, make it a habit to clean the foreskin, too.
3. Pro: Sexual Pleasure Is Not Affected, With Or Without Foreskin.
Based on a study published in the British Journal of Urology International, circumcision removes five areas in a man’s penis that are more sensitive to touch.
However, experts are not that convinced with the study, some even creating conflict with other researches.
Okay, fine. When you get rid of the foreskin, this means you are removing certain areas and nerves too, which can help you in the stimulation process.
However, these areas are not exactly the type of stimulation needed to give you the sexual pleasure you deserve. The difference now lies on the amount of friction you need to get you the orgasm you want. The foreskin contains nerves that are capable of stimulating the frenulum, one of the most sensitive parts in your penis. If you still have it, take advantage of it by rolling it back and forth to add to the sensation.
On the other hand, getting a circumcision means you need more friction to be able to orgasm. The good news is it allows you to try out different positions to maximize stimulation. Circumcised or not, how you are in bed and the positions you are willing to do are what matters most.
4. Con: Women Tend To Freak Out On Foreskin
Have you seen a porn movie where the man has his foreskin intact? Weird, isn’t it? You can’t see his manhood too, although looking at a man’s junk can be awkward and embarrassing, don’t you think?This explains why a lot of dudes in the adult industry have circumcised penises.
Take it outside the porn industry. Although it may be normal for you, women have no idea what an uncircumcised penis looks like. Well for one, they are women, so don’t expect them to know what a foreskin looks like, especially when it is moved up and down.
The best way to go about this is to make her feel comfortable. Tell her and let her know that the foreskin responds well to stimulation, which can add some spice in bed. And if she is planning to give you a blowjob, tell her to treat it like an ordinary penis. She can even use her tongue to nibble gently on the area.
Sure, it adds some surprise value, especially when it is the first time she’ll unzip your pants. At the end of the day, a penis is still a penis, capable of erection and penetration. Foreskin doesn’t really matter that much anymore.
5. Pro: Circumcision Minimizes The Incidence Of Urinary Tract Infections
Did you know that a urinary tract infection, or UTI in uncircumcised male infants are higher than circumcised ones?
In fact, a 1982 study showed that UTI are more common in uncircumcised male babies compared to female babies. Of course, things are different now, where a UTI is more common with women than with men.
So, How Can Circumcision Minimize UTI On Men?
The foreskin can be a good home for bacteria to thrive. By removing this through a process called circumcision, the growth of bacteria underneath is prevented, thereby protecting men against UTI. Aside from UTI, there is also a higher risk of getting other infections, such as meningitis, an infection of the covering of the brain, and bacteremia, or bacterial infections of the bloodstream. If you think the foreskin can protect you and your man down there, well, not exactly. In case you want to keep the skin intact, it is important to keep the foreskin clean at all times to minimize infections, including UTI.
6. Con: There Are A number Of Religious And Cultural Issues Associated With keeping Your Foreskin
Of course, no one is judging those people who continuously conform to their faith and cultural beliefs. That is part of human life, right? And it has been going on for centuries. However, one of the major issues surrounding the circumcision issue is the cultural and religious aspects. For other religions, circumcision is considered as a mutilation. In fact, it is like taking away something from the boy’s body without asking for his consent, especially when he is circumcised as a newborn baby. It limits his freedom of choice, because the parents dictate what he is supposed to do with his body.
7. Pro: It Saves You Some Cash – And A Whole Lot More.
Oh come on. Do you think you can get circumcised for free? Of course not. You need to use some of your hard-earned money to bring yourself to the hospital and pay for whatever medical expenses you incurred for wanting to get rid of the foreskin.
The good news is you can actually save yourself from this should you decide to keep it intact. You don’t have to go through surgery and pain, and you don’t even have to pay for medical bills that only bring you pain. And yes, you have to take antibiotics and other medications to minimize or prevent swelling or infection.
What Do You Think?
8. Con: Potential Complications During And After Circumcision
This is perhaps one of the major concerns when it comes to circumcision. You will never know what can go wrong when you decide to get rid of that excess skin. This includes swelling, excessive bleeding, and post-operative infections. In worse cases, although rare, there might be an injury to the urethra.
Hence, it is important to follow post-operative care instructions and make sure to take your meds, just in case you decide to get circumcised. This way, any possible complications and infections are minimized, if not prevented.
The bottom line is, it’s all up to you and your personal choices. Keeping your skin intact has both its pros and cons. It is best to weight the consequences and benefits first before deciding whether to go for it or not.