Losses from Circumcision

Last updated 12/23/2022

Many individuals believe that only a small amount of excess skin is removed during circumcision or partial circumcision. However, circumcision eliminates a number of important parts of male sexual anatomy. Everything that is now known to be physically lost following circumcision is listed here.

Along with these tangible losses, it’s crucial to keep in mind that, whenever a child is circumcised, his or her ability to choose how to feel about his or her own body and sex as an adult is by far the largest loss.

On the anatomy page, you can find further details and a diagram on the structure of intact male genitalia.

Foreskin

Up to 50% (and perhaps more) of the movable skin system of the penis is made up of the foreskin. The typical adult foreskin would measure around 15 square inches if it were spread out and unfolded ( the size of a 3×5 inch index card).

The glans are often covered by this highly specialized tissue, which shields it against pollutants of all kinds, abrasion, drying, and callusing (keratinization). Glans keratinization’s effects have never been investigated.

[1. M. M. Lander, “The Human Prepuce,” in G. C. Denniston and M. F. Milos, eds., Sexual Mutilations: A Human Tragedy (New York: Plenum Press, 1997), 79-81. 2. M. Davenport, “Problems with the Penis and Prepuce: Natural History of the Foreskin,” British Medical Journal 312 (1996): 299-301.]

Frenar Ridge Band

The main erogenous region on a man’s physique is called the Frenar Ridged Band. The depth and intensity of the sexual response are diminished when this delicate belt of densely innervated, sexually sensitive tissue is lost.

[Taylor, J. R. et al., “The Prepuce: Specialized Mucosa of the Penis and Its Loss to Circumcision,” British Journal of Urology 77 (1996): 291-295.]

What is Foreskin Gliding?

The “Gliding Action” of the foreskin, a mechanical characteristic of a typical, healthy, intact penis The non-aggressive sliding of the penis in and out of the vagina makes it easier for both partners to have smooth, pleasant, and enjoyable sex.

Artificial lubricants are necessary for satisfying sex because without this gliding motion, the circumcised penis’ corona might behave as a one-way valve, scraping natural lubricants into the drying air.

[P. M. Fleiss, MD, MPH, “The Case Against Circumcision,” Mothering: The Magazine of Natural Family Living (Winter 1997): 36-45.]

Nerve Endings

The Meissner’s corpuscles, a group of thousands of coiled fine-touch receptors, are the foreskin’s most significant sensory component and are removed during circumcision.

Dorsal nerve branches and between 10,000 and 20,000 specialized erotogenic nerve terminals of various types are also lost. Together, they are able to pick up minute variations in temperature, motion, and texture.

[1. R. K. Winkelmann, “The Erogenous Zones: Their Nerve Supply and Its Significance,” Proceedings of the Staff Meetings of the Mayo Clinic 34 (1959): 39-47. 2. R. K. Winkelmann, “The Cutaneous Innervation of Human Newborn Prepuce,” Journal of Investigative Dermatology 26 (1956): 53-67.]

Frenulum

The Frenulum, a highly erogenous web-like tethering structure on the underside of the glans, is frequently severed or amputated along with the foreskin, both of which render the Frenulum functionally useless and eliminate its potential for pleasure.

[1. Cold, C, Taylor, J, “The Prepuce,” BJU International 83, Suppl. 1, (1999): 34-44. 2. Kaplan, G.W., “Complications of Circumcision,” Urologic Clinics of North America 10, 1983.]

Muscle Sheath

The thermally-sensitive smooth muscle sheath that is located between the skin’s outer layer and the corpus cavernosa is removed after circumcision in around half of the cases. The dartos fascia is what this is.

[Netter, F.H., “Atlas of Human Anatomy,” Second Edition (Novartis, 1997): Plates 234, 329, 338, 354, 355.]

The Immunological Defense System

The soft mucosa’s immunological defense system results in the production of lysozyme, an enzyme that destroys pathogens, as well as plasma cells that release immunoglobulin antibodies and antibacterial and antiviral proteins.

[1. A. Ahmed and A. W. Jones, “Apocrine Cystadenoma: A Report of Two Cases Occurring on the Prepuce,” British Journal of Dermatology 81 (1969): 899-901. 2. P. J. Flower et al., “An Immunopathologic Study of the Bovine Prepuce,” Veterinary Pathology 20 (1983):189-202.]

Lymphatic Vessels

Loss of lymphatic vessels lowers lymph flow in that area of the body’s immune system.

[Netter, F.H., “Atlas of Human Anatomy,” Second Edition (Novartis, 1997): plate 379.]

Oestrogen Receptors

It was only recently discovered that the foreskin contains estrogen receptors. Their intended function is yet unknown and requires more research.

[R. Hausmann et al., “The Forensic Value of the Immunohistochemical Detection of Oestrogen Receptors in Vaginal Epithelium,” International Journal of Legal Medicine 109 (1996): 10-30.]

Apocrine Glands

The inner foreskin’s apocrine glands, which create pheremones, nature’s potent, silent, and undetectable behavioral cues to potential sexual partners. There has never been any research on how their absence affects human sexuality.

[A. Ahmed and A. W. Jones, “Apocrine Cystadenoma: A Report of Two Cases Occurring on the Prepuce,” British Journal of Dermatology 81 (1969): 899-901.]

Sebaceous Glands

Sebaceous glands are generally a protected internal organ like the tongue or vagina and lubricate and moisturize the foreskin and glans. Sebaceous glands are not present on the inner foreskin of all guys.

[A. B. Hyman and M. H. Brownstein, “Tyson’s Glands: Ectopic Sebaceous Glands and Papillomatosis Penis,” Archives of Dermatology 99 (1969): 31-37.]

Langerhans Cells

Specialized epithelial Langerhans cells are a primary immune system element in the whole penis.

[G. N. Weiss et al., “The Distribution and Density of Langerhans Cells in the Human Prepuce: Site of a Diminished Immune Response?” Israel Journal of Medical Sciences 29 (1993): 42-43.]

Coloration

The natural pigmentation of the glans and inner foreskin is significantly more pronounced than the permanently exposed and keratinized coloration of a circumcised penis (which is typically hidden and only apparent to others while sexually aroused). This visual stimulus’ socio-biological function has never been investigated.

In intact men of Northern European heritage, the glans varies from pink to red to dark purple, and in intact men of African and Asian descent, it ranges from pinkish to mahagony to dark brown. When a baby or young boy is circumcised, the connective tissue that secures the foreskin and glans together is torn apart.

The glans are left exposed and vulnerable to infection, scarring, pitting, shrinking, and eventually discolouration as a result. In order to appropriately protect itself, the glans keratinizes with time, adding more layers of tissue over time, which exacerbates discolouration.

[P. M. Fleiss, MD, MPH, “The Case Against Circumcision,” Mothering: The Magazine of Natural Family Living (Winter 1997): 36-45.]

Penis Size

Due to the double-layered covering of loose, typically overhanging foreskin being absent, the circumcised penis is shorter and thinner than it would have been if it had been left intact.

According to a 1995 Australian survey, circumcised men’s erect penises were on average 8mm shorter than those of intact males.

[1. R. D. Talarico and J. E. Jasaitis, “Concealed Penis: A Complication of Neonatal Circumcision,” Journal of Urology 110 (1973): 732-733. 2. Richters J, Gerofi J, Donovan B. Why do condoms break or slip off in use? An exploratory study. Int J STD AIDS. 1995; 6(1):11-8. ]

Blood Vessels

During circumcision, blood arteries up to several feet long, including the frenular artery and dorsal artery branches, are cut off. The natural function of the penis is harmed and its development is altered by this loss of the rich vascularity, which obstructs the flow to the shaft and glans of the penis.

[1. H. C. Bazett et al., “Depth, Distribution and Probable Identification in the Prepuce of Sensory End-Organs Concerned in Sensations of Temperature and Touch; Thermometric Conductivity,” Archives of Neurology and Psychiatry 27 (1932): 489-517. 2. Netter, F.H., “Atlas of Human Anatomy,” Second Edition (Novartis, 1997): plates 238, 239.]

Dorsal Nerves

The prepuce, the corpora cavernosa, the glans, and the terminal branch of the pudendal nerve are all connected. A rare but severe circumcision complication is the destruction of these nerves. The top two-thirds of the penis will be nearly completely devoid of sensation if cut during circumcision.

[1. Agur, A.M.R. ed., “Grant’s Atlas of Anatomy,” Ninth Edition (Williams and Wilkins, 1991): 188-190. 2. Netter, F.H., “Atlas of Human Anatomy,” Second Edition (Novartis, 1997): plate 380, 387.]

Complications

Boys lose their entire penises every year due to circumcision-related mishaps. Following castration and “transgender surgery,” they are supposed to live as “females” and force to undergo “sexual reassignment.”

[1. J. P. Gearhart and J. A. Rock, “Total Ablation of the Penis after Circumcision with Electrocautery: A Method of Management and Long-Term Followup,” Journal of Urology 142 (1989):799-801. 2. M. Diamond and H. K. Sigmundson, “Sex Reassignment at Birth: Long-Term Review and Clinical Implications,” Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 151 (1997): 298-304.]

The complications of circumcision cause many boys to lose their lives every year, a fact that the billion-dollar circumcision industry in the U.S. routinely conceals and ignores.

[1. G. W. Kaplan, “Complications of Circumcision,” Urologic Clinics of North America 10 (1983): 543-549. 2. R. S. Thompson, “Routine Circumcision in the Newborn: An Opposing View,” Journal of Family Practice 31 (1990): 189-196.]

Emotional Bonding

When a child is circumcised while still an infant, this breaks the mother-child link. There are signs that the innate feeling of trust in close human relationships has been lost or suppressed.

Additionally, it may have serious negative consequences on neurological growth. Inducing the newborn victim into a defensive psychological state of “learned helplessness” or “acquired passivity” to deal with the intense pain that he can neither fight nor flee reduces the infant’s self-confidence and toughness.

A circumcised boy’s pain threshold is lower than that of intact boys and girls due to the trauma of this early suffering.

[1. R. Goldman, Circumcision: The Hidden Trauma (Boston: Vanguard Publications, 1997), 139-175. 2. A. Taddio et al., “Effect of Neonatal Circumcision on Pain Responses during Vaccination in Boys,” Lancet 345 (1995): 291-292.]

Neurological Sexual Communication

Modern data implies that a penis without its foreskin lacks the ability for the subtle neuronal “cross-communication” that only takes place during contact between mucous membranes and which adds to the sense of sexual pleasure, despite never having been formally researched. Some circumcised men even claim that they’re have to use a penis pump to achieve the level of erection that an uncut man can achieve naturally.

The “low-grade neurological castration” [Immerman] of amputating a baby boy’s multifunctional foreskin function reduces the intensity of the entire sexual experience for both the circumcised male and his partner.)

This list has been adapted from that written by Gary Harryman at NORM Southern California.