Circumcision normally removes one-third to one-half of the penile skin system. This drastically alters the normal functioning of the penis and causes problems for both men and their partners. Male circumcision reduces pleasure for men and increases vaginal friction and dryness for women.

The skin of the penis is not attached to the erectile bodies inside the shaft. The skin is only connected at the pelvis and at the base of the glans. In an intact (uncircumcised) penis, the penile skin's "extra" length allows the skin to freely move back and forth on the penile shaft during intercourse.

This 'gliding action' is the hallmark mechanical feature of the natural human penis. The non-abrasive gliding of the penis in and out of its own sheath of skin facilitates smooth, comfortable, and pleasurable intercourse for both partners. The gliding action stimulates the penis and provides a lubricating effect for intercourse.

Circumcision destroys the lubricating action by removing so much skin that the remaining skin on the erect penis is stretched tight and no longer mobile. During intercourse, circumcised men don't experience the wonderful sensation of the erogenous foreskin rolling back and forth across the glans, and the man's partner loses out on the natural lubricating effect the foreskin provides.

See the anatomy page at cirp.org for diagrams of how the foreskin works during intercourse.

During intercourse with an intact penis, the vaginal walls grip the outer penile skin, and the penis slides back and forth inside its own skin. This causes very little friction against the vaginal walls. This motion is smooth and effortless and creates a very pleasurable sensation for both the man and the woman. Women who have had intercourse with an intact man describe a sensation of being perfectly and seamlessly connected to their partner.

During intercourse with a circumcised penis, the skin on the penile shaft rubs back and forth against the vaginal walls, and this is often the cause of sexual discomfort for women. Many women whose partners are circumcised need artificial lubrication to reduce friction and discomfort, but for women who have intact partners, artificial lubrication is unnecessary. Because few women in America have experienced intercourse with a natural penis, most don't understand that circumcision is a major cause of uncomfortable vaginal friction.

Studies have shown that women who have intact partners have greater levels of sexual satisfaction than women who have circumcised partners. They also have much greater success reaching orgasm through intercourse. A recent survey showed that of American women who had experienced both kinds of intercourse, 89% preferred intercourse with an intact penis. These women also reported improved success at achieving orgasm through intercourse with an intact penis.

Men also experience many detrimental physical and sexual changes because of circumcision. The most serious change for men is a significant reduction in sexual pleasure. The foreskin, which is removed during circumcision, contains many thousands of erogenous nerve endings. Approximately half of a man's capacity for pleasure is cut away by circumcision. These nerves are cut away by both infant and adult circumcision.

Men who were circumcised at birth are never able to experience the sensations these nerves provide, and so don't know that they are only feeling about half of the pleasure that an intact penis provides. Some circumcised men claim that they have all the sensation they could want, but that is like a color-blind man convincing himself that there is no such thing as color vision and that he can see perfectly with his eyes just as they are.

Men circumcised as adults are able to describe the reduction in pleasure caused by circumcision.

The intact penis provides a wide range of pleasurable sensations, and intact men describe two very different and complimentary sensations in the penis. First, they describe a sharp and intense sensation from the glans. For the intact man, the glans is best stimulated indirectly through the rolling or gliding of the foreskin over the glans. Second, they describe a different, but extremely pleasurable sensation from the foreskin itself. The combination of these complimentary sensations is exquisite. Circumcised men normally only have the glans remaining, and therefore never experience the very pleasurable sensations provided by the foreskin.

Physiologically, a man's brain expects stimulation from both the foreskin and the glans to achieve a healthy sexual response. Circumcised men lack the nerve inputs from the foreskin, and additionally, the stimulation from the glans is unnatural, because the glans of the circumcised penis is exposed and therefore stimulated directly (the glans of an intact man is stimulated indirectly). These physical and sensory changes caused by circumcision often result in problems with the male sexual response. Studies show that circumcised men have a much higher likelihood of experiencing problems such as premature ejaculation and delayed ejaculation.

While circumcision is often responsible for vaginal discomfort and male sexual response problems, such as premature ejaculation, few people realize this because circumcision is so common in America. These kinds of sexual problems are much less common in areas where circumcision is rare, such as Europe and Asia.

A growing number of circumcised men are choosing to restore their foreskins through a gentle stretching process similar to how new skin is grown for burn victims. Men who have restored their foreskin report improved sexual response, a more natural stimulation of the glans, and improved satisfaction for their partners. Visit the National Organization of Restoring Men website at www.norm.org to learn more about what can be done to reverse the damaging effects of circumcision.

In addition to this page, you may be interested to read the 2004 article by Dr. Christine Northrup, How Male Circumcision May Be Affecting Your Love Life