# Male circumcision and penis sensitivity **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 29, 2010, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167 "2010-05-29T12:26:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167/41 "2010-05-30T12:50:05Z")
Could it be that getting cut INCREASES sensitivity? Having a “bullethead” certainly exposes a greater area. So maybe those ancient Hebrews knew something…🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167/42 "2010-05-30T13:00:27Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > _Lights the Jack Dean Tyler signal_ > > You don’t want to know what it looks like. Username post combo of the week winnar! 😃 I’m cut, boys are not. It wasn’t a big unending decision, it was a ‘if there’s no big over-riding need to, leave it alone.’ I can’t tell if I’ve missed it, but I can tell the equipment works well enough. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167/43 "2010-05-30T13:02:57Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Could it be that getting cut INCREASES sensitivity? Having a “bullethead” certainly exposes a greater area. You realize the sheathe pulls back during sex, right? ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167/44 "2010-05-30T13:46:47Z")
Does it make a cool hydraulic noise while doing so? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167/45 "2010-05-30T14:28:36Z")
> [@muody25](#): > > I think that a guy should decide on his own to be honest. > Are you willing to change the way your child will experience sexuality through his life, because of the social trend, or because of reasons you don’t quite understand? > > I think removing something from your thingy, has to be done with informed consent. [Moderator Note]Let’s take the topic of whether it should have been removed in the first place elsewhere.[/Moderator Note] ---
**Author:** ![heathen\_earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/13edae/32.png) [@heathen\_earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heathen_earthling)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167/46 "2010-05-30T15:01:19Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Funnily enough, given that I’m not a fountain of virility when it comes to lasting a while in the sack, I’ve never come from oral before, despite regular attempts. I’m not sure if my insensitivity when it comes to oral is because of my cut cock or because of my constant masturbation. I wouldn’t call myself a constant masturbator, but mine isn’t cut and I have the same kind of insensitivity specifically to oral. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167/47 "2010-05-30T16:37:34Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > An uncircumcised penis requires more washing than a circumcised one. Ergo, a circumcised penis is cleaner. The latter statement does not follow the former. Just because something requires to be cleaned more frequently doesn’t make it inherently less clean than something else at any given time, if done regularly. And seriously, any dude that can’t keep take the time to clean his junk probably as other hygiene issues as well. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167/48 "2010-05-30T16:52:48Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > The latter statement does not follow the former. Just because something requires to be cleaned more frequently doesn’t make it inherently less clean than something else at any given time, if done regularly. “If done regularly” being the operative words. Just because an uncircumcised penis can be washed and appear as clean as an unwashed, circumcised penis, there is no equivalency with regard to cleanliniess. If an uncircumcised penis requires more cleaning than an uncircumcised penis, it is inherently less clean. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167/49 "2010-05-30T16:56:16Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > If an uncircumcised penis requires more cleaning than an uncircumcised penis, it is inherently less clean. No it is not. It being able to become less clean does not mean it is less clean at any given time, as your statement would imply. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167/50 "2010-05-30T17:09:49Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > “If done regularly” being the operative words. Just because an uncircumcised penis can be washed and appear as clean as an unwashed, circumcised penis, there is no equivalency with regard to cleanliniess. If an uncircumcised penis requires more cleaning than an uncircumcised penis, it is inherently less clean. Your logic only holds if the threshold for uncircumcised penile cleanliness is significantly higher than normative overall cleanliness habits, and if penile cleanliness directly correlates with time rather than events, which I doubt. In other words, my dinner plates get dirty when I eat dinner off of them. If I have two kinds of plates – say, ordinary white ones, and some pink ones with decorative ridges that take slightly more work to get clean – but both kinds get completely clean when I run them through my efficient and thorough dishwasher, all my plates are still equally clean. The pink ones do not get less clean just sitting in the cupboard. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167/51 "2010-05-30T17:13:56Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > “If done regularly” being the operative words. Just because an uncircumcised penis can be washed and appear as clean as an unwashed, circumcised penis, there is no equivalency with regard to cleanliniess. If an uncircumcised penis requires more cleaning than an uncircumcised penis, it is inherently less clean. This has squat to do with the OP. It’s something Great Debates would LOVE you to open a thread in. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167/52 "2010-05-30T20:44:53Z")
A circumcised penis tends to be most sensitive on the underside. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167/53 "2010-05-30T22:34:38Z")
> [@emmaliminal](#): > > In other words, my dinner plates get dirty when I eat dinner off of them. If I have two kinds of plates – say, ordinary white ones, and some pink ones with decorative ridges that take slightly more work to get clean – but both kinds get completely clean when I run them through my efficient and thorough dishwasher, all my plates are still equally clean. The pink ones do not get less clean just sitting in the cupboard. Unless your dinner plates produce smegma while they are sitting in the cupboard, this is the silliest analogy I have ever heard. Pick any two objects; the one that requires the most washing to keep clean over time is inherently less clean than the other. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167/54 "2010-05-31T04:08:13Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Unless your dinner plates produce smegma while they are sitting in the cupboard, this is the silliest analogy I have ever heard. Ket’s get something clear: Smegma is not inherently unclean–and in fact, may very well be the opposite–and on a forum where ignorance is supposed to be fought, it’s disappointing to see you perpetuate this lie. Cite: [A Crcumcised Penis is Not Necessarily Cleaner](http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/151612/a_circumcised_penis_is_not_necessarily.html) As such, your entire argument is flawed. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167/55 "2010-05-31T04:18:14Z")
Probably TMI. But I had an adult circumcision about a year ago due to a medical issue. To date I have not noticed any decrease in my sensitvity, which was pretty high to start with. As an aside to something that popped in the middle of the thread, prior to the operation I had never used any lotions when taking care of myself, but I now find it much easier to use a lotion or mosituriser. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167/56 "2010-05-31T05:04:01Z")
I find it funny that, in these threads, we usually have majority of the intact men saying, “Oh God, what brutal _torture_ is circumcision!” while all the circ’d men cry, “What? We’re _fine_! Stop insulting our penises!” I think that this has less to do with functionality and culture and everything to do with men being very in love with their own penises, whatever the state. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167/57 "2010-05-31T05:10:44Z")
> [@Small\_Hen](#): > > I find it funny that, in these threads, we usually have majority of the intact men saying, “Oh God, what brutal _torture_ is circumcision!” while all the circ’d men cry, “What? We’re _fine_! Stop insulting our penises!” I think that this has less to do with functionality and culture and everything to do with men being very in love with their own penises, whatever the state. You don’t think that women who were circumcised as children would have the same reaction? ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167/58 "2010-05-31T05:15:32Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > You don’t think that women who were circumcised as children would have the same reaction? No, not really. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167/59 "2010-05-31T05:34:59Z")
> [@Small\_Hen](#): > > No, not really. lol ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167/60 "2010-05-31T08:11:51Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > An uncircumcised penis requires more washing than a circumcised one. Ergo, a circumcised penis is cleaner. Something that requires and receives more washing to remain as clean as something that requires less washing is by definition equivalently clean. But I’m trying to think of a situation where an unwashed penis would ever be acceptably clean for any specific purpose. I don’t think cleanliness is, in practice. a linear scale here. It’s the ‘requires more washing’ thing that’s getting me. In what real-life situation are you suggesting the question arises whether the penis is clean and the uncircumcised man finds his is not, whereas the uncircumcised man finds his is already clean enough? (Because it seems to me that in such a situation, the uncircumcised man goes off to wash and thus proceeds with a cleaner penis than the circumcised man, if he decides he’s good to go without washing) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-circumcision-and-penis-sensitivity/541167.md?page=4)