We Finally Know Whether Or Not Being Circumcised Affects Sexual Pleasure

A new study found circumcision does not make the penis less sensitive, proving the foreskin isn't as vital to sexual pleasure as previously thought.

Researchers led by Dr. Jennifer Bossio of Queen's University in Ontario, Canada enlisted 62 men between the ages of 18 and 37. Of these men, 30 were circumcised and 32 were not, according to Medical Daily.

All of the men underwent a series of tests to determine the sensitivity of their penises in response to warmth, touch and pain.

Multiple areas of the penis were tested, including the glans penis, midline shaft, proximal to midline shaft and, if it was available, the foreskin. These tests were also administered to an area on the participants' forearms, which acted as a control site to compare sensitivity, Science Daily reports.

The research team found no difference in sensitivity between the two groups.

Both groups were also asked to report their levels of sexual satisfaction, orgasmic function and sexual desire over a four-week period. The reports from the two groups showed no clear difference in any category.

Previous research suggested the foreskin is the most sensitive part of the penis, likely because it contains a high amount of nerves.

But in this study, the foreskin was determined to be just as sensitive as the forearm, while other areas, like the midline shaft, were revealed to be more sensitive than the control site for some of the tests.

It appears the possession of foreskin has virtually no impact on sexual pleasure.

In a statement, Dr. Bossio said,

Methodology and results from this study build on previous research and imply that if sexual functioning is related to circumcision status, this relationship is not likely the result of decreased penile sensitivity stemming from neonatal circumcision.

Circumcision was previously proven to protect against numerous sexually-transmitted infections and even lower the reduction of HIV transmission.

Approximately 75 percent of American men are circumcised, but just a little over half of newborn American babies are being circumcised today, Medical Daily reports.

This study was originally published in The Journal of Urology.

Citations: Circumcision Does Not Reduce Penile Sensitivity Or Affect Sexual Pleasure Later In Life (Medical Daily), Neonatal circumcision does not reduce penile sensitivity in men study finds (Science Daily)