When you are making the decision to circumcise your newborn, the last thing you can imagine is the future sex life he may have in as little as 18 years. However, this is something to take into consideration, as some people feel strongly about the social benefits of the procedure, especially when it comes to the appearance of the penis. You may find that your own preference interferes or influences your final decision, and you are not alone in that trend. For example, a father might want their son’s penis to look like his, just as the father’s penis looks like his own father’s, and so on. Another thing that parents fear is that by choosing not to have their child circumcised, he will be ridiculed later in life- especially in places like the high school locker room, or during intimate relations with his girlfriend. Overall, there is a strong desire and pressure to conform to society’s expectations and for a child’s penis to “match” others.

As a society, it is an acknowledged fact that women (and men) find a circumcised penis is more attractive. In fact, circumcised men purportedly receive more fellatio, which makes sense given our societal preference. When asked, some women have elaborated even further, stating that a circumcised penis is “cleaner”, “sexier”, “nicer to the touch”, and “smells better”. This preference is most apparent in nude visual arts (or erotic material), where circumcised men are almost exclusively used to increase visual appeal. The same can also be said of feature films that contain nude scenes- they also use circumcised males much more than uncircumcised men.

The men that choose to undergo elective circumcision later in life usually do so strictly because of social reasons. They might find their intact foreskin unattractive which in turn decreases their sexual confidence, or their partner may be pressuring them to undergo the procedure because of their own personal preference or sexual needs. Because circumcision of an adult man can be more costly and painful than done as a newborn, it is important to take the time to research the procedure and talk at length with your physician about the side effects and complications before undergoing surgery.

Although there have been numerous studies tracking the difference between sex lives of circumcised and intact men, the results have all been anecdotal. Some studies have found that circumcised men experience less sexual dysfunction, and are able to maintain an erection much easier in the later years of their life versus uncircumcised men. It has also been claimed that circumcised males perform better sexually, but there are just as many opposing claims.

Regardless, social reasons are a major factor in deciding whether or not to circumcise your child, and should not be discounted.

Posted in Circumcision

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