Personal Preferences & Experiences

"To maintain vaginal health, which helps prevent vaginitis, follow these good habits

• Wash your genital area daily, using only mild soaps, like Dove. DON'T use antibacterial soaps.
• Insist that your sexual partner washes his genitals before intercourse, especially if he isn't circumcised.

(Uncircumcised men are more prone to bacteria or yeast infections themselves.)"

Is it any wonder women prefer circumcised men?

Anonymous (USA)

My daughter is a semi-retired nurse. She devotes a certain amount of her time doing pro bono work among the elderly in her local community, looking after them in their homes. Cleanliness is often difficult to achieve among the elderly, especially those with limited mobility. A good deal of effort goes into bathing her "gentlemen". She is absolutely firm that all men who might ever need home help should be circumcised well before that need comes up. It is almost impossible to retract foreskins and clean the penises of elderly and immobile men. With a high level of incontinence, the penis is seldom dry and the uncircumcised collect foul smelling bacteria laden coatings on the glans .

Anonymous (USA)

My son got circumcised at age 30 to please an insistent girlfriend. They both love it.  I also have a friend who was a hospital nurse for many years and assisted in dozens of circumcisions of young men whose fiancés insisted on it before they were married. I even know of one case where the girl's MOTHER insisted on it!

Janet (USA)

I went through' your comments regarding circumcision with great interest. I'd like to share my own views and experience.  Here in Europe, basically no one is circumcised at birth, as it seems to be in the US. All the men I dated before my marriage were, of course, not circumcised. Interestingly the of the foreskin's morphology differs very much from man to man; in some cases the glans was fully covered even in full erection, with some of the skin protruding beyond the tip of the glans. In other cases, there was virtually no foreskin covering the glans, very much like a cut penis. The majority were almost covered fully when limp. My husband had a fairly long foreskin which would extend over the glans even when fully erect. Of course, it could be easily pulled back and I particularly liked to play with that during foreplay. The feeling of the foreskin moving back and forth over the erect penis is quite stimulating for the female partner. I also liked to give small bites to the foreskin.

For me, sexual intercourse was pleasant but not terribly gratifying. It seemed to me that my husband was penetrating his own foreskin rather than my vagina. Once or twice, I discussed that with him, suggesting we should hold his foreskin back during intercourse. Obviously this was not very practical. While I was away, visiting my parents, my husband secretly decided to go for circumcision as an outpatient. On my return, ten days later, he found some good excuses for not making love for a few days. I was getting suspicious about his behavior when he told me all about it. After my initial shock, I was impatient to see what they had done to his penis. I had never seen a circumcised penis before and only knew that some communities practiced circumcision as a religious rite. The appearance of his newly circumcised penis amazed me and I found it to be extremely erotic. I could see a clear dark line close to the glans, where the incision was made and the glans was proudly shooting out at the distal end. Though he said he was still sore, the cut had completely healed up. His foreskin was totally removed and his shaft was smooth. The frenulum was intact and there was enough skin mobility over the shaft for caresses and masturbation. We made love for the first time about 10 days later (i.e. 25 days after his circumcision). I must admit I felt his thrust much more intensely and enjoyed sex much better than before. He also felt much better inside me.

From one day to the other I moved from a total ignorant of circumcision to a pro-circumcision. My sex life has radically changed (and so has my husband's). His glans seems to have grown bigger and the look is neater and more appealing. Regarding sensitivity, all we've heard about decreasing sensitivity is simply absurd : My husband responds positively to my slightest touch.

I have meanwhile got interested in this subject and discussed circumcision openly with a few of my female friends. Three of them have had sex with circumcised men as well and have experienced similar feelings. One negative point though masturbating a circumcised penis is somewhat less practical as the remaining skin is less mobile. However the advantage overrules this point.

My husband's only regret is that he was not circumcised as a baby as he was quite embarrassed to undergo this procedure at his age. Our 2 sons were circumcised in their first month, not to "look like dad" or for any other classical reasons such as hygiene or cancer, but because we are convinced that circumcision definitely enhances sexuality. And cosmetically, what a look, WHAAOO! It seems that the US is crowded of anti-circumcision movements giving all kind of finny reasons why circumcisions should be "abolished". The only good reason I would see in their views is the pain the poor little baby is undergoing. Today a large panoply of local anesthetics are available for your dear little one does not feel it at all. What does the dentist do when he needs to work on one of your teeth?

Christelle (Europe)

Many years ago my husband's surgeon was assisted by a male nurse, but during the procedure a young female nurse stopped by and began to watch and ask the doctor questions about why the circumcision was being done. She wiped hubby's brow and asked how he was doing, but he insists she appeared to become quite aroused over it.  Afterwards, while he was in the recovery room, she came to the waiting room to tell me how much I would like the result, and I would agree she appeared to me to be quite flushed and aroused. Any girlfriend or new wife is very fortunate, if she falls in love with an uncircumcised man who agrees to get himself circumcised, for both their pleasure.

Janet (USA)

I overheard a group of teenage girls at school talking about which boys were not circumcised---and they said "ooo gross" --I would not date him!"--now I am sure that is a rather broad statement but I think most girls here in US prefer a "cut" guy----My best gay friend who is an absolute hunk himself will not even look at an uncut cock---he says he would just as soon see a snake!----and finally my best friend in high school got engaged to a girl who demanded that he be circumcised before they married---so I definitely think "cut" is preferred---at least from what I see and hear---also--I never thought twice about having my son circumcised when he was born--I told the doc it was a requirement!

Kyle (USA)

It was my wife's wish. I was ritually circumcised after marriage. All the family was present. It happened 12 years ago.

My wife's family is from a country where all men are circumcised. Therefore already before my marriage I agreed to get circumcised. After marriage I was still agreeing but had no nerves to go to a doctor asking for that. Finally I told my wife, I will have it done but I have no nerves to go to the doctor, please arrange it. A few weeks later we had an invitation of the family of my wife and just before leaving she told me, take a shower, you should be clean for your circumcision party. This was the situation with no way out. The family was waiting. All were informed, me the latest. I asked here for the circumciser, the so called Sunnetci. The procedure was performed while all family members watched and was over in a few moments. My wife and I are both very pleased with the results.

Anonymous (USA)

I was circumcised last year in June by my own girlfriend who is a surgeon and I left the decision entirely to her concerning the style: it was a real surprise as she didn't tell me which style she did before the bandages were off:  To my astonishment she did it low but very tight with the complete excision of the frenulum, which was a bit short by the way.  Exactly the style I would have chosen; I surely wouldn't have been happy with a partial circumcision; the full thing or nothing ! The optical result is fantastic and my sex life has significantly increased : we have sex at least twice a day (on weekends!)

After a first two weeks the excitement and the oversensitive glans where a bit of a problem, but my oversensitivity has decreased, just the right amount to have sex for a longer time before climaxing but providing me with a most exquisite orgasm.. Exactly what my girlfriend, who is Jewish, wanted.

Charles (USA)

I am a nurse in the critical care unit of my hospital, but I work in other departments when needed. In my job I see a lot of uncircumcised men who have various problems with infections, tight foreskins and men who want to be circumcised. Circumcision is not as uncommon as many may think in adult men. It is a simple, painless procedure and heals within about ten days. A local anesthetic is used and the procedure takes about twenty minutes. Often, they are being circumcised at the request of their wives.

As a woman, I definitely prefer circumcised men. Other than my husband, I did have one brief experience with an uncircumcised man. I prefer circumcised men for many reasons. I told my husband before we were married that I wanted him to be circumcised. Every nurse I know prefers circumcised men. We simply see the problems caused by foreskins and know what could happen to us if our husbands were not circumcised. We see many women in hospital with infections caused by uncircumcised partners who neglect proper cleaning under the foreskin. Women suffer needlessly because men do not or will not look after their penises. A foreskin needs to be fully withdrawn and washed thoroughly with soap and water at least once a day. The inner layer of the foreskin has glands that create a substance called smegma. This is a continuous process, hence, the daily cleaning.

Why do I prefer a circumcised penis? I absolutely refuse to perform fellatio on an uncircumcised man. There is almost always an unpleasant smell to the uncircumcised penis. Remember, under the foreskin, stale urine and smegma collect and can create a foul odor if not washed away every day. Just urinating can cause a smell as the urine decomposes. A circumcised penis is much cleaner and is much easier to keep clean. A circumcised penis feels much better for me during sex because the loose foreskin does not smooth out the glans (head) and corona (rim) of the penis; I can feel the difference. The stimulation to both me and partner comes directly from the rubbing of the flared glans. In an uncircumcised man, he receives pleasure from pumping back and forth inside his own foreskin. This reduces my pleasure (See picture). I think a circumcised penis looks more natural and sexier. The foreskin looks like an anteater's head or an elephant's trunk. The glans is the best looking part of the penis, so why not leave it permanently exposed? I prefer masturbating a circumcised penis because the loose skin doesn't get in the way.

I have had bladder infections with men who are not circumcised. For a woman, these are most unpleasant. I felt like I had to constantly urinate and when I did, the burning sensation was most painful. I never had such an infection with a circumcised man or with my husband since he has been circumcised. Again, a circumcised penis is simply, much cleaner and is far more sanitary regarding bacteria, etc. I made my husband, before he was circumcised, wash his penis thoroughly just before we had sex. This is not a great contribution to spontaneity.

My husband is much happier since he was circumcised. He says sensation is greatly increased for him. He can feel me during intercourse because his glans is always exposed. Before, he used to slide back and forth inside his foreskin, hardly feeling me at all.

Maybe your girlfriend was being unreasonable, but I know women who will not have sex with uncircumcised men. Usually, they have had infections of various types from uncircumcised men. Women may get a yeast infection, treat it successfully, only to be infected again by her mate. The foreskin provides an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, viruses and fungi. The yeast-causing organisms live under the foreskin and reinfect the woman. Unless you are willing to wash thoroughly under your foreskin at least once, each and every day, you should consider circumcision just for the cleanliness it provides.

Please remember a circumcision is a very minor operation. It may be done in a doctor's office or in the outpatient department of a hospital. Most doctors at my hospital do their adult circumcisions in the emergency treatment room.

Anonymous (USA)

I recently asked my 21 year old son what he thought about not having any choice in the matter of his circumcision. He thanked me for having him circumcised at birth because he definitely preferred to be circumcised, and was glad he "...had gotten it over with..." when he really didn't know anything about it. His younger brother 15, resents not being circumcised at birth and has asked his older brother (father is deceased) if he can get him circumcised. I'm sure we will accommodate his request. In retrospect, I wish I had circumcised both boys at birth.

Ruth Ann (USA)

I have always thought that the cut cock was much more beautiful than what nature produced. No offense guys, but the natural look reminds me of an elephant's trunk whereas the circ'ed version just has that beautifully shaped head there looking like the head of an arrow ready to do its damage. If I had been blessed with a dick I would really not be happy unless I had been cut.

Well, My first really serious boyfriend was a natural. As you might guess I was disappointed that the dick I now had to play with wasn't my ideal. Well I began to put the pressure on him to do something about it. That sweetheart agreed, and just for me! We eventually broke up, but he indicated he was not sorry he had gotten circumcised.

My husband was also a natural when we met, and he too has gotten circumcised. While he always washed just before sex, which was necessary if he wanted to have a blow job, I still much prefer giving him head now that he is cut. All that excess skin is not in the way and his bare cockhead is flared and dry, which turns me on even more. Intercourse provides much greater stimulation, although anal sex also does, which was more painful at first. I've now gotten used to taking his circumcised tool in all of my holes and love it so much more. Our sons will definitely be circumcised, although we do not favor infant circumcision but instead will wait until they are closer to puberty.

Susy (US)

Wednesday, March 19, 1995 is the anniversary of the circumcision of my boyfriend Kevin.

His circumcision is quite tight when fully erect, but fairly loose when flaccid because he changes length very considerably on erection (more or less doubles in length!). The scar line is clearly defined and placed well back on the shaft. All the inner skin was preserved and only outer skin was cut away. His frenulum, which had been very short and tight, was cut away from the glans but not removed. It is still very noticeable.

Kevin is extremely pleased to be circumcised. He works in a catering kitchen and now notices the difference that being circumcised makes. Previously he got very sticky and smelly under the foreskin during the working day, especially in summer. Now it is much less sticky and not at all smelly. I'm told he received a free-hand circumcision, performed by a local Jewish physician who is quite experienced in these matters.

I much prefer him circumcised, and he likes it much better too!

Vera (UK)

I could not bring myself to give oral sex to Charles. Even if he showered before sex, it wasn't long at all before the smell returned. As soon as I would skin him back, you could smell his strong, cheesy scent.  This made any spontaneous oral sex impossible. Intercourse was different than anything I had ever experienced. There was much less feeling for me, even though he was quite large. This I believe was because of his sliding in and out of his own foreskin for stimulation, rather than the bared glans sliding back and forth directly in my vagina providing both of us with stimulation. After Charles' circumcision, our sex life greatly improved and he is convinced sex feels better for him too. Susan (UK)

My husband had a very long, thick foreskin which did not retract automatically when erect. I had to peel him back and no matter if he had just washed or not, there was always a smell which turned me off. When having intercourse with me, his foreskin would slide back up over the glans and he would be sliding in and out of his own foreskin, rather than inside my pussy. This provided very little stimulation for me. Consequently, after discussing this for several months (during which time he did not provide me with one orgasm), I convinced him to be circumcised.

He went to a urologist recommended by our family doctor who did the procedure. Unfortunately, the circumcision was done pretty loosely as there was a large roll of skin just behind the glans when he was soft and the frenulum was also still intact. However, this was much improvement of the uncut state. After we had sex with his newly circumcised penis, my husband told everyone how it was the best thing he ever did. Sex was much better for him as well as me. Unfortunately, I still didn't like blowing him because that roll of skin behind his glans smelled just like his old, stinky foreskin. I spoke to my gynecologist and she recommended another (female) surgeon. Both my husband and I went in to see her about tightening my husbands circumcision and also about removing his frenulum.

She indicated it would be no problem and did the procedure while I watched about a week later. My husband and I are very happy with the results. He now has a very tight circumcision with no frenulum remaining. Even soft, there is no loose skin bunched up behind the glans. Sex is much better for both of us.

We have two sons, ages 10 & 7, and are planning to circumcise both of them very soon.

Karen (USA)

Not all women (or gay men) prefer a circumcised cock all the time.  In our recent query to CIRCLIST members, several told us that foreskin can have an erotic purpose.  Check out this personal preferences and experiences that involve foreskin.

I've always had something of a fetish for circumcised men. I think the circumcised penis is much more attractive than the uncircumcised, and I've always enjoyed sexual activity more with circumcised guys. I've been with many circumcised guys (and a few uncircumcised), and I always find it fascinating it look closely and see how the operation was done and compare. I like Playgirl magazine because they generally use circumcised models (but, as woman, its not like I have much of a choice when it comes to erotic magazines anyway!). When I read erotic fiction, I enjoy it when there is some reference to whether or not a male character is circumcised. If there are any other pro-circumcision female list members, I would enjoy talking with them.

Kelly (USA)

I have two boys, circ'd, and if I ever have another boy, he will join the ranks of circ'd. I have to say that my brother and his wife are recent graduates of med school, and are now DR's. They both find medical merit in circumcision, and in conversations, have told me that circumcision still has plenty of advocates. It is, as I write this, a valid and legal medical procedure. Some parents are for, and some against, but as of today, it is still my choice as a parent to choose this procedure for my child, no matter what my reason.

I have also had many sex partners, and none were uncut. I live in the south, maybe region has something to do with this, I doubt it though. I have friends all over, and all of our sons are circ'd. Circumcision is strongly favored (in fact, insisted upon) by all of the females I know.

Sally (USA)

After reading so much about re-circumcision on the "Circlist" web site I decided to have my 2 sons re-circumcised.  I was never happy with the loose skin that was still left over by the doctor. (Same Doctor did both sons at birth). So I arranged it with a urologist, and my sons that were 10 and 14 now have beautifully tight circumcisions.  There is absolutely no movement of shaft skin towards the head of there penises, which I just adore and know that there future lover's and wives will love as well and probably thank  me for having it done.  Now that the heads of there penises are fully exposed and permanently bared, I can personally say that the appearance is much sexier to look at and cleaner as well.  I also encourage my boys to love the look of there newly remodeled penises and to not be shy around girls because when they get a look at there super tight circumcisions they will just go crazy for them.

Alexis (Canada)

There was a fascinating survey in Australia asking how women felt about male circumcision.  Only 2% thought males should decide for themselves and most everyone favored going back to routine infant circumcision for boys.  See related results.

Egyptian Wife Insists on Circumcision Before Marriage

This is the complete account related by the newly circumcised husband, of his circumcision at the insistance of his Egyptian wife.

My Wife Had Me Circumcised

Six months after we were married, My wife made an appointment with her family doctor for me to have a vasectomy. When I was having the examination before the operation the doctor asked if I had ever considered having my foreskin circumcised. He said that while I was having the vasectomy would be a good time to also be circumcised. I told him that I had thought about it, but I would have it done some other time.

My wife took the call from the doctor to confirm my appointment for the vasectomy, and the doctor then asked her if she would like me to be circumcised. She said that she would, but I had told her I wasn't ready to have it done. The doctor then told her that I should have it done, and if she wanted him to he would do it while he was doing the vasectomy. He said that the waver I would sign before the operation, would allow him to do the vasectomy, and any thing else that he thought necessary.

My wife then told him to go ahead and circumcise me at the same time.

After the operation, when I was in the recovery room, my wife came in and said, I hope your not mad, but I had you circumcised. I told her that was all right, if that was what she wanted, because I would not have the nerve to have it done myself.

It has been 15 years now, and it was the best thing she ever did for our sex life.

I was circumcised at 34 after years of trading yeast infections back and forth with my wife. I was born in 1958 in a rural Massachusetts town whose doctor didn't believe in circumcision, so about half the boys in town were uncircumcised. When I went to High School in a city, I was one of 4 in my class that were uncircumcised. Some of them tried to hide it in gym by keeping the skin peeled back, but no one really teased us.

As I hit college, I developed phimosis, but I was so afraid of what the doctors would say, that I managed to stretch the skin. Once married, my wife and I started trading infections back and forth. I was ready to get circumcised at once, but the doctors recommended trying a variety of creams. The problem persisted and my wife and I finally pushed to have it done.

The urologist was great. There was very little pain and the healing went quick. I didn't have information on the types and styles of circumcision, and ended up with a pretty loose one. It was a bit tighter in the months after the cut, which was wonderful, but has loosened up as the scar relieved itself over the last 6 years. Sex was definitely better when it was tighter (but is still great - much better than with the foreskin). I'm seriously considering getting a second operation to get it tightened up - maybe have the frenulum removed - maybe even going to a plastic surgeon to have it done.

Anyway, being circumcised has been absolutely great. Both my wife and I strongly prefer it.  We'd recommend it for everyone considering it.

(Massachusetts, USA)

I was born in the US in 1958 and circumcised when I was 27 years old

I found out I was uncircumcised when, at about the age of 10, my best friend and I played "doctor". Initially I liked having a foreskin, but as we progressed into puberty and our games became overtly sexual I gradually began to envy him. For reasons I couldn't explain, his circumcised penis just seemed to look and feel sexier.

My first physical encounter with a girl (age 16) was not a particular success, at least in part due to my being uncircumcised. Her initial reaction and subsequent questions/comments made it very obvious I was her first encounter with a foreskin, and she was not impressed. Subsequent experiences during the following years, while less overt than the first, continued to reinforce the impression that women seemed to have, to varying degrees, a distinct preference for circumcised penises.

Then, when in my mid-twenties I met and started dating a young woman who was extremely open in her feelings about it. Not only did she find circumcised penises sexier looking and feeling, but she was clearly turned on by the idea of my being circumcised, and the subject became a recurring theme in our foreplay. She would aggressively tease me about my need/desire to be circumcised, and probably ripe from my past experiences (not to mention her significant charms and skills), I couldn't help becoming more and more responsive. And then, after a few months she introduced me to a girl friend of hers. My girl was a nurse, her friend was a doctor, and less than a month later they circumcised me in what was perhaps the most erotic, and certainly the most bizarre experience of my life.

We eventually split up, but I have never regretted what happened. I find the look and feel of my circumcised penis to be wonderful, and the sexual sensation has only been enhanced.

Scott (USA)

As a nurse in the maternity wing of a large hospital, I have assisted with several hundred circumcisions. I am 100% in favor of routine circumcision. The pain the baby experiences is no doubt considerable, but I think it's more than worth it. It's a simple operation, lasting only a few minutes, and it provides a lifetime of benefits. At the hospital where I practice, about 60 percent of baby boys are circumcised, and I strongly encourage any expectant mother to do it. While the baby sometimes cries loudly during the procedure, most quiet right down after being released from the Circumstraint (the board to which the baby's arms and legs are strapped during the procedure). Assisting during circumcisions is the favorite part of my job, as I think it's a moment of magic when a baby boy's glans is permanently exposed for the first time in his young life. If a mother truly loves her son, she should definitely insist on circumcision.

Sandra (US)

I told my mom that we had been having a conversation about circumcisions and she said that my brother was done because of the health reasons. She said that it was better for him and that she could not see why some mothers don't do it. I asked her about it hurting when it is done and she said he never felt it and she was in the room with him. We also got up the nerve to ask a few of the guys we hang out with about it and they all said an uncut guy looks gross and they always try to hide it because they are ashamed of it. My best friend is a candy striper at the hospital here and she went to the newborn nursery this afternoon and looked at the babies there. She saw a little red card on the basinettes of the boy babies showing that they were circumcised. She said all of the boys had the red card. 3 of my girlfriends babysit for boys and said that the tip of their penises show so they must be cut.  If that many boys are cut then there has to be something good about it or they wouldn't have been done is the way we see it.  Me and a couple of my friends read the letters here and we all agree that if you want to be done, get it done now. We also think that it is what you want that matters the most. To the person that wanted to know about the pictures we saw, we saw the ones where they use the plastic clamp that falls off by itself and the one called the Tara KLamp that is used on bigger boys and men, it was kind a neat seeing the before and after pictures. Ugly before and neat after it was done.  My mom said that the dark circle is where the clamp was put when they cut the skin. She says that not all boys have a circle because there are so many ways to cut it and some don't leave a mark like that. I asked her how you can tell then if he is cut and she said that if you can't pull the skin over the tip then the guy is cut. Gee we are getting more education on the net than we got in health class. We want to know what other  girls think about this.since we are the ones that have to live with the guys.

Anonymous (US)

Men's Health (Oct. 1997):

No guy likes to be lectured. And being your trustworthy guy's magazine, we're not going to. We will, however, pass along some things that the women surveyed noted as "turn-offs."

ANNOYING BODY THINGS:

Hairy butt, Butt crack peeking out of pants, Uncircumcised Penis, long fingernails

Wife Gets Circumcised Husband for Christmas!

Perhaps a contribution from an older woman might shed a little reality on female preferences for male circumcision.  Barbara on 21^st Feb. (V1*560) represented reality in averring that it is the person and emotions which count more than anything!

I cannot offer the wealth of alternative sexual partners which your contributors seem to have enjoyed. I was virgin at marriage and have remained monogamous.  However, I have experienced the uncut and circumcised state !

In England, apart from religious or explicit medical need, circumcision has become rather rare and my husband's uncircumcised state was not a matter for query or concern.

After some 5 years of marriage my DH had to visit New York on business, shortly before the birth of our second child.   When he returned shortly before Christmas neither had particular sexual urges, owing to my advanced pregnancy and it did not occur to me that he was being less revealing of his body than normal.

I was safely delivered and some weeks later the usual urges returned and I was amazed and infuriated to discover that he had been circumcised and the scars still looked rather angry. As much as anything, I felt that this should have been a joint decision, furthermore it had incurred expenditure which we could ill afford at the time.

He explained that he had read Articles that suggested links between cancer of the cervix and the presence of the foreskin and, in any event, felt that I might enjoy the suggested reduction of male sensitivity, being somewhat slow to climax myself and that I might treat it as a Christmas present!

Ater a furious row I accepted that he was trying to please me ( although in retrospect I suspect alternative motives)  and our normal relationship resumed.

So, what were the effects ?

• I have no doubt that after about a year the coronal ridge was far more prominent and the glans was somewhat larger.
• While DH was always scrupulously clean before circumcision, there was no longer the somewhat fishy genital smell when the glans was exposed.
• There was a slight increase in friction during intercourse, particularly on the 'outstroke' once the glans had hardened and the coronal ridge developed.

Unfortunately, too much skin had been removed, such that the frenum tugged the glans downward  -  an angry spectacle in erection - until after a particularly vigorous session, we found that the frenum had ruptured, releasing the glans to a more normal profile.  He was too embarrassed to question whether it should be restored and after staunching the blood, the severed ends healed quite quickly and eventually atrophied to little more than 'pimples'.

After 25 years, I accept his circumcision as an inconsequential fact.  Possibly I receive the greater benefit since he is relatively insensitive and slow to climax.   He is disadvantaged by the lack of that smoothly running tissue when I wish to initiate action and, to some extent that reduces spontaneity.

I have not been sufficiently persuaded of benefits of circumcision to have my own sons circumcised.

I referred earlier to dubious motivations and I suspect that his circumcision was a ploy to persuade me to have my clitoral hood trimmed - a procedure that I have successfully avoided!   However, once we had got over my initial objections, and still relatively devoid of pubic hair following childbirth,  I discovered that lack of hair was, for him, a terrific 'turn-on'.   Once he had persuaded me that his circumcision was for me, but finding me unwilling to follow suit,  he changed tack to want me to remain hairless as a quid pro quo !

The best of men can be pigs and we spent a lot of effort finding practical methods to indulge his whim. He has put our conclusions in Newsgroups at alt.hair-removal,  which may interest your many enquirers on this topic No.  18)

The important message must be that physical features are of trivial importance compared to affection and mutual consideration, which has kept us together for over 30 years.

My wife is English. She did not like my foreskin and complained about its smell. She was also reluctant to perform oral sex (at least until I  thoroughly washed. This ruined the spontaneity of the moment). She also had  regular 'infections', something she has never suffered from since my  circumcision.

The benefits of my circ according to her is that it's far cleaner, she has had no infections, no smell, she prefers the look of a circ, and she says that there is greater friction on her pussy, especially on her 'lips'.  She has also pushed me to get a revision to tighten up my circ so as no skin  can bunch behind my glans. She also wants something done with my frenulum as  this was not really cut well on my last circ. It is large and quite ugly and there are also some remnants of  stitch marks on it.  I will probably have this totally removed.

Andrew (USA)

The Wedding Gift

About 12 years ago a friend of mine announced he was to be circumcised by a Jewish doctor in preparation for his marriage to a Jewish girl. While neither of them were especially religious he was happy to have himself circumcised as a kind of pre-wedding gift to her.

As soon as I heard of their plans and because of my life long interest in the subject of circumcision, I was of course fascinated to follow the results.

Some 3 months after his marriage and 9 months after his circumcision I brought the subject up one evening over after-dinner drinks and was pleased to find that both were not only very happy with the end result but both very comfortable with discussing the whole thing with me.

The final surprise of the evening came when she asked if I would like to inspect the result for myself and with her husband's agreement she had him stand and remove his trousers and drop his pants down around his ankles while she proceeded to explain how it had been done, were the scar was, how long it had taken to heal etc. etc.

All this time she was touching and handling my good friend's cock which became increasingly erect with all the attention. Even then she continued on explaining and illustrating just how tight the shaft skin was when he was fully erect and how much better she thought it looked and even more so, how much better it was for sex (and all with me sitting not a few feet away!)

The Jewish doctor who had done this circumcision had placed the scar extremely close to the back of the glans and the result was very neat indeed, with no inner foreskin lining remaining and no discernable scar.

Nigel (UK)

I got circumcised at the age of 19 (almost 3 years ago) and the mere thought of my urologist seeing my foreskin wanted me to back out. But seeing how I wanted to be circumcised as long as I could remember, I did submit to his examination which involved pulling the foreskin back hard to see if there were any adhesions, and then pulling the foreskin forward and stretching it outward to see if I had phimosis. That was rather embarrassing but the doctor was nonchalant about it and scheduled me for my circumcision in a medical room in his office building.

Ben (USA)

Circumcision in our Swedish nudist family!

I am a Swedish single mom with a sixteen year old son and in our home nudity is something natural. At home we seldom wear any clothes and in the summer we often visit our local nudist beach.

I have always thought that a circumcised penis is the most beautiful thing and my former husband got circumcised at my request. When our son was born we decided not to have him circumcised and leave the decision to him. You can just guess how happy I was when he was 12 and told me that he wanted to be circumcised. I phoned my lady friend who is a surgeon the same day and made an appointment. A couple of weeks later he went thru surgery and when he was healed we were all very happy with the result. She made an excellent job and left no movement of the shaft skin and placed the scar pretty high up the shaft.

Our friends at the nudist beach noticed directly that my son had been cut and they all thought it looked nice. They had many curious questions, to say the least.

Now he is sixteen and it’s quite obvious that my friend did a very good job. We are both completely shaved and his shaft has no wrinkles at all, as it should be. He always looks nude and beautiful. Women tell me what a nice and handsome son I have and I love their comments. I agree with them.  Several of my friend’s sons have now become circumcised and they all love it.

Kristina  (Sweden)

I was circumcised when I was 16 by a female doctor and her three (rather young) female nurse/assistants.  My mom decided I needed to be circumcised after my Dad and her got divorced.  I wanted it done too, to be like all the other guys and to have a cock girls would want.  While it was all done professionally, I turned beet red during both the pre-circumcision examination and the actual procedure.  To them, it was all routine.  But to me, this was my deepest secret.  I had always made sure no one saw my uncut cock.  Now, not only did the doc and nurses know, but they seemed perfectly happy to broadcast it to everyone in the waiting room.  They even wrote it on my school note, so the front office staff and my gym teacher both knew that I had just been circumcised.  They spent lots of time shaving and prepping me for the surgery, which in hind sight, I'm not sure was totally necessary.  The doc even took before and after photos for her collection, and the nurses giggled an made comments about my long 'snout' and how much happier I was going to make the girls after I was 'done.'  They gave me a completely high and totally tight circumcision, with my scar more than halfway back my shaft.  I was completely nude during the procedure, and was told what a nice looking, 'well developed' boy I was (whatever that meant, I can never be sure.)  Post circ, I had four follow up visit, the first to remove the sutures, and the rest to see how well I was healing.  All of the nurses and the doc got to see my newly circumcised penis on these visits.   I love my circumcision very much, and came to find the doc and her nurses interest in my circumcision rather erotic and masturbated frequently during the following year, thinking about it.  I bet they did too!

Justin (Canada)

We have been sent a number of promotional copies of a new book call An Innocent Obsession which revolves around circumcision and most particularly, a women's interest in circumcised men (only). We have been requested to review the book and a copy of the review is attached for you to put up on the Circlist web site and post to the Group.  I think our members will find it useful.

Early Adolescent Knowledge and Attitudes About Circumcision

This study explored methods for assessing attitudes toward circumcision of early adolescents and differences in satisfaction between circumcised and uncircumcised males that would warrant further investigation. Seventy-three boys, aged 11-14 years completed the Peterson Body Image Scale and a questionnaire concerning their own circumcision status, satisfaction with that status, and perceptions about the status of other family members and peers. To access knowledge, subjects identified diagrams depicting different circumcision states during a personal interview. Physical examination confirmed reported circumcision status. Of the study group, 19% (n=14) were uncircumcised. Use of visual aides to report circumcision status was more accurate (92%) than self report (68%). Circumcised boys scored higher on satisfaction items than did uncircumcised boys, (t (15.65)=-3.96,p<0.001). No difference in general body image were found between groups. The provision of information about the medical risks of circumcision has little impact on the parental decision to circumcise their newborn, In fact, it may have a deleterious effect, as some parents become angry with the physician for providing lengthy and confusing information (1) the father's circumcision status, (2) and other "social concerns such as perceived future ridicule by siblings and schoolmate" are more influential than knowledge of medical risks in parents' decision to circumcise their child (3,4).

Methods
Seventy-three males, age 11 to 14 years (mean 12.5 years) were given a complete physical examination as an optional component of a puberty and health education program in an urban, public, middle school. Approval was obtained from the Committee on Human Research at our institution, and parental informed consent was obtained. Prior to the examination, subjects completed two self report questionnaires and were subsequently interviewed by one of two male physicians.

Personal Interview
The physician presented subjects drawn representations of a flaccid circumcised and uncircumcised penis and asked them to identify the circumcision status of each drawing as well as to choose the one they most closely resembled. Circumcision status was determined during a physical examination by one of two male physicians.

Summary
In summary, there were three indicators of circumcision status: the subjects' self-report on the questionnaire, the subjects' self-identification by choice of drawing, and the physicians' determination.

Results

Sample Description
The group was ethnically diverse. Non-Hispanic white students were over represented (school percentage is 19%), whereas Hispanic students were under represented (school percentage of students with Hispanic surnames is 28%). Of the Asian boys 7 were Filipino (an ethnic group that traditionally circumcises their sons at puberty), all of whom were circumcised. Few Subjects belonged to a religious group which requires ritual circumcision (i.e., fewer than 7% were Jewish, and none was Moslem). The ethnic and religious composition of the circumcised and uncircumcised males were similar, although Hispanic males made up a larger percentage of the uncircumcised group.

Circumcision Status
When asked whether or not they were circumcised, 25% were not sure. Determination of circumcision status by choice of drawing involved less uncertainty, with only two subjects not able to choose. This method produced a distribution similar to that of a physical examination. According to physical examination, 80% (n=58) of the subjects were circumcised and 19% (n=14) were uncircumcised. The circumcision status could not be determined by the physician for one subject. Therefore, the subjects are representative, as the national neonatal circumcision rate for boys born in the late 1970's was approximately 80%.

General Knowledge
All of the uncircumcised boys correctly identified a circumcised penis, compared with 78% of the circumcised boys, (x24 = 8.3361, p < 0.08). All of the uncircumcised boys were able to correctly identify the picture of an uncircumcised penis, and 76% of the circumcised boys made the correct identification (x24 = 8.300, p < 0.08).

Knowledge of Own Circumcision Status
Circumcision status by self-report and by picture were compared with the physical examination. The two self-report methods were recorded as accurate when they agreed with status as determined by physical examination. Self-report was 68% accurate for the entire study population. Uncircumcised boys accurately reported their status more often than did circumcised boys (79% versus 66%), and circumcised boys were unsure of their status more often than were uncircumcised boys (28% versus 8%). However, these differences were not statistically significant.

Circumcision status by choice of drawing was 89% accurate for the over all study group. A much higher percentage of the circumcised subjects were able to accurately report their circumcision status by this method (93%), and no one in this group was unsure about which picture most closely resembled themselves. Among the uncircumcised subjects, the same 11 boys who accurately reported they were not circumcised also chose the appropriate picture to depict their circumcision status. Again, these differences were not statistically significant.

Perceptions of Similarity to Others
Of the subjects, 62% perceived that most other boys are circumcised. Circumcised and uncircumcised boys did not differ significantly in their responses to this question, (62% versus 69%, respectively).

Most of the study participants (80%) perceived being similar to family members with respect to circumcision status, (i.e., indicated they felt "fairly strongly," "strongly," or "very strongly" that they are similar to family members). The mean score on this item among the circumcised boys was 1.684 (SD = 1.435) whereas the mean score among the uncircumcised boys was 3.889 (SD = 1.764). A lower score indicates feeling more similar to family members, and this difference was statistically significant, (t(10.65) = -3.49, p < 0.005).

Satisfaction with Circumcision Status
This study provides methods for investigating psychosocial outcomes of circumcision status among young adolescent males. Of the young adolescents in this study 33% were in error or uncertain about their circumcision status. Report of circumcision status by mean of choosing a self-descriptive picture produced more reliable and valid responses. The use of visual aids rather than questionnaires may glean more accurate information about circumcision status if it is not feasible to have a clinician do a genital examination in a research situation. there was a trend for uncircumcised boys to be more knowledgeable about circumcision with a greater (although not statistically significant) accuracy in self-report and ability to differentiate between drawings of a circumcised and uncircumcised penis. However, both groups had an equal ability to self-select anatomic drawings. The uncircumcised boys appeared to have more prior knowledge about circumcision in general and greater awareness of their own status than did circumcised boys. Future research should examine possible explanations for this observation including education concerning circumcision issues previously received by early adolescents.

The uncircumcised boys demonstrated less satisfaction with their status, although this did not extend to body image as a whole. No conclusions or recommendations can be based on a sample size of 14 uncircumcised subjects, but the need for further investigation into this area is clear. The factors affecting satisfaction with circumcision status are currently not known and need to be examined. Future research will need to explore differences in education and life experiences (including incidents of ridicule surrounding circumcision status) experienced by both groups of boys, as well as effects of ethnicity and religion on satisfaction. The uncircumcised boys in our study perceived themselves as being in the minority. Since the desire to be similar to peers typically fades during progression into later adolescence and adulthood, the effect of increasing age on satisfaction also needs to be examined.

¹ Department of Epidemiology, Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX.
² Department of Adolescent Medicine, University of Texas-Houston Medical School, Houston, TX.
³ Joint Primary Care Fellowship, Department of Family Practice and Department of Adolescent Medicine, University of Texas-Houston Medical School, Houston, TX.

In epidemiologic studies of the relation between circumcision and sexually transmitted infections, it is necessary to rely on self-report of circumcision status. The purpose of this 2002 study in Houston, Texas, was to determine whether adolescent males could make correct self-reports. During physical examinations, adolescents were asked whether they were circumcised. The authors then examined the adolescents’ genitalia. Circumcision status was recorded as complete (glans penis fully exposed), partial (glans partly covered), or uncircumcised (glans completely covered). The mean age of the 1,508 subjects was 15.0 (standard deviation, 1.63) years; 64% were Black, 29% Hispanic, and 7% White. Forty-nine percent had full, 1% partial, and 50% no circumcision. Of the 738 fully circumcised subjects, 512 (69%) considered themselves circumcised, 54 (7%) considered themselves uncircumcised, and 172 (23%) did not know. Of the 751 uncircumcised youth, 491 (65%) described themselves as uncircumcised, 27 (4%) reported being circumcised, and 233 (31%) did not know. The sensitivity of self-report among those who thought they knew their status was 90.5%, and the specificity was 94.8%; 27% did not know their status. In this population, self-report of circumcision status did not result in accurate information mainly because many adolescents were unsure of their status.

http://aje.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/159/11/1095

TEEN CIRCUMCISION SURVEY

COMMENTS FROM OUR MAILBOX

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I'm uncircumcised and wish I had been circumcised when I was born.  My dad died when I was a baby and I don't know if he was circumcised.  But my uncle is circumcised and he and my mom have had several talks about having me circumcised.   Ultimately they say it's up to me.  I watched South Park the other night and even they were talking about how great circumcision is.  I agree.   I just wish it was already done.  I don't know what was wrong with my doctor.   My mom says he didn't believe in circumcision.  If he ever grew up in Indiana with a long foreskin, he would!

- age 15, Indiana

Like the study above, none of my friends even know they are circumcised.  I know they are circumcised, because I'm not circumcised and my cock is not at all like theirs.  But every other guy they see at school is circumcised, just like they are, so they think they were all born that way.  I wish I was circumcised too, but I'm not and I'm embarrassed to ask my mom to have it done, and I'm also afraid it will hurt.  Sometimes the girls will ask us if we are circumcised, and most of the guys refuse to answer, or make comments about not being Jewish.  I think it's so weird they don't know they are in fact circumcised.  I even talked with a college guy once, and he said he wasn't circumcised.  I saw his penis and said I thought he was circumcised, and he was insistent that he was not "because he still had the helmet on his cock."  I tried to explain that they don't cut off the head, but he was clueless still at 22 years of age.

- age 16, Chicago, Illinois

-age 15, Sydney, Australia

I am circumcised, and I think I would stay the way I am. The people I talk to who are uncircumcised tell me the foreskin gets caught on things (like their zipper), and when you pee you have to pull it back all the time.

- age 17, Arizona

I would rather be circumcised (I'm not). Most guys in the U.S. are circumcised, and that's what most girls expect -- so why not just give them what they want? Plus, my girlfriend says that even though my penis looks, tastes, and feels great, she always fantasized about having a circumcised penis rather than an uncut one.

- age 15, California

I am uncircumcised, and I used to wish I was cut so I would look like everyone else; I used to be embarrassed about it. It's funny -- I was supposed to be circumcised, but at the time (2 weeks old) I had a major surgery on my kidney, and the doctor ordered that I not be cut at the time. I never did end up being cut, and although I've never been circumcised and don't know what that feels like, I think I would still like to be circumcised.

- age 16, California

I got circumcised two months ago and I'm really glad I did. The bare knob rules! I found a piece on the Net called "Questions Teenagers Ask About Circumcision" which was really helpful in making the decision to get cut. I'm 17 now and I'm glad my parents were supportive. I showed them the brochure on circumcision and they took me to the doctor a week later. My circumcision is still more noticeable than the other guys at school, but I think it will look more like theirs with time. I think all boys should be circumcised at birth.

-age 17, Chicago

I am not circumcised, but I wish in the worst way I was. While I find masturbating easier than I suspect most circumcised guys do, I believe you get more of a feeling being circumcised. Also, being circumcised, in my area of the USA, you fit in better; and personally, I think a circumcised penis looks better.

Age 15, Delaware

I'm circumcised and like it, for health reasons. It is a lot cleaner and safer. That's why the Jews have done it forever. God was really onto something!

- age 17, Oklahoma

Well, I'm circumcised, and I don't have a problem with it. When I'm in the showers at the YMCA, or at school, all the other guys my age (and older, and younger) are cut. Sometimes you see a boy who hasn't been circumcised, and maybe it might feel better when he masturbates -- but it seems like too much trouble. I'm happy the way I am, and so are my friends.

- age 14, Maryland

I am circumcised. Almost all the guys are. I think the few guys who weren't may feel bad because they were "different" from everyone else. I guess it was the 7th grade gym showers when everyone found out what everyone else's penis looked like. I was kind of embarrassed that mine was not as big as some of the other guys' (basically they were half a year older and already into puberty). I think I would have been more embarrassed if I had also been uncircumcised. I understand from what I read that it is easier to keep your penis clean if you are circumcised and maybe a little more fun to masturbate. I am happy being like I am.

- age 17, Arkansas

I would like to be circumcised. This is because I wouldn't have to pull my foreskin down to see the head. I would be like all the other boys.

- age 14, Indiana

I was circumcised when I was 13, as I had a tight foreskin and I'm really pleased with the result, but I just wanted to ask why people in the UK tend to discourage circumcision.  Most all of my friends were uncircumcised, but love the way my cut one looks and wish they had one like it too.  I really think all boys should at least be offered circumcision in the UK.

- age 13, UK

I would rather be circumcised, like I already am, because I have heard that all sorts of stuff can get caught under an "uncut" foreskin and cause infection. Also, I like stimulating my exposed head with lubrication -- it feels great!

- age 15, New York

I would rather be circumcised, because girls are more used to the look of circumcised penises rather uncircumcised ones.

- age 13, Pennsylvania

I am circumcised and my best friend is not. I am glad I was "cut" because when we would masturbate each other, it was hard for me to get the head of his penis to come out very far, so his semen would sort of "drool" out and not shoot like mine. (And the shooting was the cool part!)

- age 15, Ohio

My good friend is circumcised and I am not. Well, when I was younger I felt kind of like a freak -- especially in the locker room after swim gym. My already-little penis would shrivel up and get a knot of skin at the end that made it look deformed.

- age 15, Ohio

I'm cut and love it. There are a lot more things you can do with it. It's more sensitive, and you get to see more.

- age 16, Canada

I'm UNcircumised and very small to boot. I hate it, and so does most everyone else.  I want to be circumcised, tight.
  I think it will not only feel and look better, but I think it will make me look bigger too.

- age 18, California

I am cut. I prefer it, simply for hygienic reasons. The thought of having to worry about yeast infections is not all that interesting to me.

Also, I would rather look a little different from an animal.

- age 16, Oregon

I am circumcised and glad I am. I think circumcised penises are much more attractive than uncircumcised penises. Plus, it's all sealed up when you're circumcised, and smegma [a secretion of the head of the penis] doesn't form around the head. That sounds disgusting. I'd rather grab on tight with a little Vaseline Intensive Care and stroke it firm until I ejaculate.

- age 17, Ohio

Well, as a circumcised guy, I don't know which feels better -- but certainly a circumcised one looks better, so I'll go for circumcised. About half my friends are circumcised.

- age 19, Mexico

I'm cut, and don't think I'd change that if I could. The way I masturbate is that I wrap my hand around my penis about halfway and pull the skin up and down around the head. I guess you can do that with foreskin, but if for some reason I just want to stroke the head, being cut makes it easier.

- age 15, New Jersey

I am circumcised and would prefer to be that way. A foreskin looks so ugly just hanging there. You've got to roll it back to piss, masturbate, and have sex, so why have it there?

- age 15, Canada

I am uncircumcised. I love being that way -- it makes me different from most of the other guys, but it also makes me a little uncomfortable because of that difference. I have heard it is much easier to masturbate with foreskin than without, but I have also heard cut guys can last longer during sex.

- age 17, Kentucky

Circumcised. I'm kosher all the way.

- age 15, Illinois

I am uncircumcised, but I would rather be circumcised. It would be easier to clean up after a masturbation session, and also on other days when the penis had to be washed. I'm glad I found this website. I'm looking forward to getting circumcised.

- age 15, Singapore

I am circumcised, and that is the way to be. Uncircumcised members are just so damn ugly!

- age 14, Australia

Circumcised. It's the way I am, and I have always been use to it. Besides, I'd hate to be one of the uncircumcised guys that gets made fun of in the locker room.

- age 14, New York

I have experienced both; I was uncircumcised up until I was about 14. Then my step dad said that I had to get circumcised. I prefer being circumcised. It looks better and is cleaner, although I liked playing with the skin before. The operation hurt a little when it was healing. But, my friends and the girls like my circumcised dick better.

- age 17, Indiana

Circumcised. My girlfriend prefers circumcised guys and will give oral sex (head) only to circumcised guys. She says they are cleaner.

- age 18, Ohio

Dad Scheduled My Circumcision Against My Will

I am 17, and I was just recently circumcised at 16 a little over a month ago. I never looked in it until now and found this site. My father chose to be circumcised as an adult and wanted the same for when I was born, but my mother pleaded him out of it to leave me (and my younger brother) intact. Growing up, I never thought anything about circumcision and neither of my parents ever mentioned anything. I didn't get any locker room comments or had any infection and didn't minded cleaning under the foreskin everyday in the shower (I had a short foreskin). Didn't care much about appearance, I liked the way it looked. Just last month as I had my annual physical exam to start the new school year, we had a new doctor since the last one retired. So the good doctor checked me head to toe, including my penis and testes to make sure nothing was wrong. My dad (can't go by yourself until you were 18) was outside the room, and the doctor spoke to him quietly about something as I went out. I didn't hear what they were talking about until a few days later at the dinner table that they (my dad and the doc) scheduled for me to be circumcised in a few days! I was stunned, furious and a bit scared too, I liked it the way it was, and no one ever told me anything. It turns out that was what my dad and the doctor discussed, about having me circumcised because supposedly I could have infections or be much more susceptible to STDs and HIV. I didn't believe it then. There was a huge screaming match, and dinner was ruined. I looked to my mom to help, she stayed silent and had a sad defeated look. I knew she wanted to help me, but she was too timid of dad who wasn't going to have it any other way but to be forced to quietly agree. I stormed off to my room. And later my mom came up to see me, she said she was sorry that she couldn't do more and to just have it done and over with so there'll be no more arguing. I promised to do it, for her.

A little over a week later, I was taken to the clinic (less than happily) where they put me under local anesthesia and the red antiseptic. It wasn't all that bad of an experience, it was kind of a turn-on in fact, and the nurses were very nice and comforting. The doctor there used the Gomco clamp on me and cut away my foreskin with my frenulum removed also, and out I went all bandaged up. Several weeks later, I healed with the sutures removed and ended with a very high and tight circumcision (as I found out from here), beautifully done. It's different and took some time to get used to, especially masturbating without the skin, but I LOVE it! I really love the look of having the bare head bulb of the penis fully and beautifully exposed with the darkened line way up to show that I was circumcised. To be circumcised to prevent infection and lower the risk of catching some STDs are one thing, but I just love the way it looks. I did thank my dad for letting me have the memorable experience than just the normal baby job, and my mom was glad I was happy with it. My younger brother was also taken in to be circumcised after me (he's 13), and they were able to fit the Plastibell on him since he's a late developer. I now plan to have my future son(s) circumcised and ensure they have a just as exciting and memorable experience as I did. Now I fully believe that all boys should be circumcised.

-John.

I was chatting (simultaneously, but separately) with two young American  friends of mine yesterday evening, both of whom are from the Hoosier State (Indiana). One has just turned 17 and the other is 17/18. Intelligent lads, I have found.

I told them about my recent circumcision and, once they were resuscitated, I decided to probe their knowledge on the subject a little. Both were cut at birth, and neither seemed to realize that not *every* male child in the States gets a similar treatment. One of them was, in fact, distinctly startled when I mentioned this fact, and was even more flabbergasted to learn that circumcision is generally far less common in other parts of the world than it is in the USA. This same chap came across as enthusiastically pro-circ (for instance, when asked whether he was cut himself the response was "DEFINITELY!!!" and he was horrified to hear that the circ rate appears to be declining in America), although when pressed he wouldn’t declare that he would have any male child of his own done, citing insufficient knowledge of issues relating to hygiene.

Both of them were particularly surprised to hear that, getting done as an adult, you have some sort of ‘choice’ over the exact cut to be undertaken, although this is understandable. Neither, for instance, was in the least bit aware that he had a frenulum until this was raised during the discussion and prompted a self-examination to check it out. Incidentally, both of them, from what I could ascertain, appeared to have a loose (and perhaps low) cut, being able, for instance, to pull skin up onto the glans even when erect.

Neil

Growing Up Uncut

A Face Lift for the Penis

I just wanted to drop you a note after coming across your website and not really seeing anything similar to my thinking on circumcision.  I know you probably get lots of anti-circumcision email, particularly anti RIC, but I can assure you this email is nothing to do with that.

While I am pro-circumcision (for all males at any age) I can tell you that I grew up uncut, with a long, beautiful, picture-perfect foreskin.  It was the type of cherubs frequently shown in European paintings and immortalized on white marble statues of young teen males and even gladiators.  It was generally healthy and provided me with great pleasure as a lad.  I think many men, mostly circumcised, enjoying playing with my long, succulent tassel of foreskin.  Now before you stop reading this and mark me down for yet another anti-circ fanatic, know that while my skin was beautiful, healthy and well loved by many, I always enjoyed seeing the bare, rounded acorns on my fellow lads in the showers.  I never missed a chance for “penis show and tell” with my grade-school buddies, usually having to explain that my penis was the unchanged one, and that theirs had been lovingly clipped.  Even with that, all the boys I knew seemed to be happy they were circumcised, and so did I even though I never thought I wanted mine changed to be like theirs.  Circumcised penises were something to adore, suckle and admire by uncut boys like me, and the opposite was true for them, I believed.

I had an active sex life with girls and boys through my high school years, and my masturbatory habits were even more prolific than most of my contemporaries.  Thus my long skin got plenty of regular workouts, stretching it back behind the head on most downstrokes while masturbating and certainly keeping it peeled back behind my flared glans during intercourse.  By the time I was in my later 20’s I began to notice my skin looking much less attractive.  It had become much looser, more wrinkled and the ‘mouth’ of the foreskin hung open in a constant yawn.  By the time I hit 30 I had seriously begun to think my well-used companion needed a little ‘nip and tuck’.  At 35 the skin was even more wrinkled and a date commented that it looked like a ‘tired, old man’ when it was soft.  I became more self conscious in the gym showers and then began looking into getting something done to improve the cosmetic appearance of my penis.  Of course, this led me back to thoughts of circumcision, particularly noting that my circumcised colleagues had nice looking, younger, less wrinkled cocks even when soft.

I’m pleased to tell you that at age 38 I got circumcised by a wonderful doctor in New York.  It was a moderately tight circumcision, with a scar about 1.5 inches behind the head.  As I said above, I am not anti-circumcision.  In fact, if I had been circumcised at birth I would have been just as happy, and would not have had to go through the several years of researching and eventually being circumcised.  If I had boys I think I would circumcise them when they were born, or at least before they hit puberty, based on my own experiences.  In any case, I wanted to provide you with this note for the website to help others understand my own experience and point of view.

Robert (New York, USA)

I just turned 70 and on Nov. 30 will celebrate the 45th anniversary of my circumcision.  I finally went through with it at age 25 in 1961.

I was born in a medium sized deep south city in 1936.  Many boys my age were not circ'd.  At my high school, I estimate the circ rate was less than 50%.  In my fraternity in college and in my PE classes,  the rate among southerners was about 50%, but boys from northern states, mostly in the naval ROTC program, were about 90% circ'd.

  At an early age my mother let me know that I must "push back my penis" and wash under it, otherwise, I would have to have an operation, and "the older you get, the more it hurts."

 My best friend in high school, born in 1937, was not circ'd, but his brother born in 1940 was.  My brothers born in 1938 and 1950 were.  I noticed in my high school that the younger boys beginning at my brother's age were more likely to be circ'd. Therefore, I conclude that circumcision must have taken off in my hometown about 1938 or so. At the YMCA, where swimming was nude, I noticed that boys my age from certain schools in more affluent parts of town had a much higher circ rate than boys from schools in my part of town.

 I thought I remembered that my father was circ'd.  Probably the last time I saw him unclothed was when I was 10 until I had to help him use the bathroom 50 plus years later. I confirmed that he was.  How he came to be circ'd, having been born at home in 1911 in the same city where I was born where in 1936, only about 50% of the boys were circ'd, will forever be a mystery.

 I really got a shock when I was sent to a summer camp in 1949 and 1950.  Most of the boys there were from affluent families from North Carolina and Virginia and were about 95% circ'd. At this age sexual matters were frequently discussed; therefore, I was an object of curiosity.  One boy admitted to me that he had been circ'd at age 6 and he remembered all the details.  Another declared that my penis must not be real.  I didn't let that latter comment disturb me too much, because this was the same boy that, after a discussion of how exactly women get pregnant, declared that his mother "would never do anything like that!"

 At the end of summer camp, my parents stayed in the mountains for a week.  I met some of the local mountain boys and found that they skinny-dipped in the nearby river.  They were mostly not circ'd.  Only a few the more obviously affluent families in the area were circ'd, but I never heard any comments about the subject among this group.

 At my fraternity house in college, discussions were usually about sports, sex and cirricula.  Occasionally the matter of circumcision would come up.  I remember one boy saying his father was certainly looking out for his interests when he was circ'd as an infant.  Another boy who was not circ'd insisted that sex was much better if you had a foreskin.  Another boy who had been in the navy told the story of a shipmate who had to have an emergency circumcision after tearing his foreskin in as encounter with a prostitute.  He said the doctor asked him if he had been f-----g a rusty tin can.

 I joined the US Army Reserves and was sent off for training.  Almost all the boys in my unit were rural boys from Mississippi and Alabama.  Most were not circ'd, so here I was back in the majority.  I was sent for advanced training to a post near Baltimore.  Most of the southern boys were not circ'd and most of the northern and far western boys were.  One exception was a boy of Italian heritage from New Jersey, who was not circ'd.

 The University of Maryland was  near the army base.  I was wandering around there and looked in on the swimming pool.  This was a time when many colleges had nude swimming for men.  I noticed that the circ rate of those in the swimming class that I saw was at least 95%.

 While in the Army, I went to see an Army doctor to see if the Army might circ me.  He at first said yes, then backtracked, saying that I was due for separation in four weeks and there wouldn't be time to assure complete healing and they would have to keep me until complete healing was assured. He said I should see a civilian doctor later.

 I  moved to a new city in the upper south and took a job shortly thereafter in 1960. I joined the YMCA  in my new city.  It appeared that of the regular members, the circ rate was about 85%.  The Y dormitory was used to house army draftees and recruits overnight.  They had the use of the gym and pool while there.  Swimming was nude at this Y at the time.  I noticed that generally the recruits from the very rural counties would not be circ'd and those from counties with larger towns with hospitals usually would be.

 My insurance at my new job would not pay for elective surgery until after a year had elapsed.  After a year, I got up enough courage to ask  my doctor about the matter.  He sent me to a urologist.  The urologist was very friendly.  He told me that he had been circ'd when he was in college.  He said he went back to class after two days. He said all his pals knew about it and they gave him a hard time.  He jockingly asked if I would like him to create a french tickler.

 The operation went well.  I went to the hospital the day before and stayed one night thereafter.  The healing went well and in about three weeks, it was as if I had been circ'd all along. I have been much happier since.

R. Jackson (USA)

Careful What you Wish For!

As a teen boy, I wanted to be circumcised and I started the ball rolling by telling my doctor that my foreskin was kinda tight sometimes, during a routine checkup.

He almost immediately suggested circumcision which he told my mother, without even looking at my penis.  He gave me (my mother) a referral to a urologist. At that point I got kind of panicked and tried to delay but they sort of forced me to go through with it. I got circumcised the day before Christmas vacation. Only 2 friends, 1 male and 1 female knew in advance. With the vacation and a doctors excuse to skip gym for a week, it was a month after surgery that I first showed it in the locker room. No one said anything at the time but several guys asked me about it at other times and they were very supportive and I never got teased about getting cut. I did get teased about being uncut a few times and girls were also opposed to foreskins.

Anonymous (USA)

Circumcised with Fellow Football Players

I was born at home in Kirkland Washington near Seattle, rather a rural area in late 1933, and was not circumcised although a few of my friends in school were. Many people moved here during WW2 and afterward from outside the area, probably where they were done. Although the uncut were in the majority I always desired to have it done. I didn’t have a problem, I just thought it looked better. My friends that were cut said they liked it, I did resolve to have it done sometime in the future. That had to wait for a few years however. In 1950 after graduating from High School, at age 16, I enrolled in the University of Washington and got a job keeping statistics for the sport department to help pay for my tuition, and, I got a good parking spot on campus. I lived at home and drove to classes every day. My parking place was by the back door of Hec Edmundison Pavilion where I worked.

This put me right in the locker room with the football and basketball players when we all showered together after the practices and the games. Most of them were circumcised, about 65%, this was between 1950 and 1954. In High School it was about 40% but as I said Kirkalnd was rather rural in the 30s with one doctor doing most of the deliveries who did not do circumcisions. I suppose the big difference percentage at the U of W was because most of the fellows came from areas where it was done more commonly in Seattle and other surrounding communities other than Kirkland. Of my 7 cousins, 2 my age the rest younger, 5 born in Seattle and 2 in California, all were circ’d before they left the hospital.

The locker room and an infirmary at the U of W is located in the Hec Edmundson Pavilion. There is a tunnel under an access road and the grandstand for the football players to go onto the field. The basketball players go up a flight of steps to the court. The infirmary is equipped to handle all but the most serious injuries encountered on the basketball court or football field.

It in 1953, when I was 19, one of the three uncut Native American football players on the team developed a problem and the young team doctor about 30 years old, who was circ’d, suggested he needed to be circumcised. The doctor was there to mainly take care of muscle sprains and other sport related injuries but he had been doing circumcisions for three or four years before on his job there. Immediately the other two Native American players also wanted to have it done, it was a group identity macho thing for them. So did I, but I always had wanted it done and this was an opportunity, not macho for me. One of the assistant coaches who was really in charge most of the time, also circ’d, thought it a good idea because it would lessen practice time off from foreskin problems, and always gave verbal permission to go ahead. We didn’t even have a release form to fill out. I was under 21 and at that time theoretically needed parent permission so I didn’t need to get a signature. It wasn’t going to cost anything and be done right there in the infirmary. So I was circumcised with a local along with the three football players. Several of the football players, probably fraternity brothers, watched through the infirmary room window at their fellow football players cheering them on, they didn’t care about me. They wanted to see how macho this was going to be. I am sure this cheering section was the norm because this doctor had been doing circ’s ever since he started working there on a regular basis. Not really paying that much attention before, I believe I saw a freshly done one from time to time after I first started working there in October of 1950.

It was a Friday afternoon, I was first and only felt the needle which stung like crazy, after that, I felt nothing. It was done without a clamp and over before I knew it and was back in school after the weekend. The football players wanted it done without a local because of the macho thing but the doctor said, no, they would have a local. The whole thing was done in about an hour and a half for all four of us. It probably took longer but that was 53 years ago and my memory has grown dim. Strangely I can remember what they all looked like and their faces but I cannot recall any names. I never told my parents about this, they never knew or found out. The only relatives of mine who ever knew was one cousin who saw my circ when we went swimming together nude one day in Lake Washington near the Juanita Golf Course the next summer. As I recall, I wanted to show off my new look to him. The other was one of my grandfathers who saw me on a car trip we took together about a year later.

I had to work on the roof of my family home to replace a broken shingle the day the stitches came out and that was a bit uncomfortable, the only discomfort I actually had the whole time. I have been so grateful every since, it is so much nicer. The skin ended up being rather loose but now in my 70s although I would like it tighter, at my age I will probably just leave it be. Although I didn’t watch through the window, the next month, three more football players, one white, two black, were circ’d in the infirmary, and four rookies at the beginning of 1954. The young team doctor was an advocate of circumcision and I think several of the basketball players were done but I did not spend as much time on the basketball side of my job so don’t know for sure. I was out of the U of W in the middle of 1954 so I don’t know how long this doctor stayed on but I am sure he continued cutting there with the basketball and football players as often as he deemed it necessary until he moved on to another job.

Had I know better, he could have done it 3 years sooner. Looking back 53 years, would I do it again? Absolutely! It is one of the best things I ever did. If anyone is hesitating about this, go do it now, you will never be sorry.

Franz Rosín

"Dick Skin Pullbacks"

As a new Circlist member, I thought some members might be interested in my experience. I hope it encourages more people to get circumcised!

For as long as I could remember I hated having a foreskin and admired the penises of my circumcised friends.

As a small child, another uncut friend and I used to ‘circumcise’ each other by pretending to be doctors. We would lie on the bed and take turns in pulling each others’ foreskin right back. We called the ‘dick skin pullbacks’ and thought it was too late for us to be circumcised. We also tried, in vain, to keep our foreskins back with rubber bands. By the way, my father was circumcised, but my grandfather, my brothers, most sons of family friends and all my male cousins were not. I went to a primary school with many Greek and Italian kids, none of whom were cut. Most of the ‘Australian’ kids were circumcised, which made me feel left out and even more resentful of my foreskin. My fascination with the subject grew. When I reached puberty I fooled around a few times with a circumcised friend who had a fantastic, sleek penis that I was immensely jealous of. I wanted to have one just like him. Around this time I again tried to keep my foreskin back with rubber bands, super glue and tape. Nothing worked.

I also realised, to my joy, that the foreskin could be pulled back when I masturbated. God only knows why I hadn’t thought of this earlier. What a revelation!

When I started to have girlfriends I hated them seeing my penis. I thought the foreskin was ugly (although, as far as foreskins go, mine wasn’t that bad).

A couple of them had had guys with cut cocks before and told me they liked that better (‘they’re smoother’, ‘it feels better’, etc). I also hated the feeling of my foreskin rolling around inside girls. With one of my girlfriends, there was a ‘click’ each time I withdrew. I always used to pull back my foreskin when I went to the toilet and like to keep it pulled back. Invariably it would roll back over the glans, catching pubic hair on the way. Very uncomfortable.

In my early 20s, I made a device to keep my foreskin back during sex. I couldn’t believe how good it felt.

At the time I was going out with a girl who had no strong feelings about circumcision one way or the other.

It was then that I took the plunge and went to see a doctor, who referred me to a specialist who did the operation about a month later. I was having sex within about five weeks and couldn’t believe how different it was. Instead of feeling the skin, I could feel my girlfriend’s vagina enveloping my penis right to the base, a feeling that was totally new to me. She says she didn’t really notice the difference, although said she could feel the head of my penis more.

It was, and still is, amazing seeing the bare head of my penis every time I went to the toilet, showered or masturbated; it was a sight I thought I would never see.

My current girlfriend found out by chance (in my presence, very embarrassing) from another friend that I was not cut as an infant. I already knew she hated foreskins, and she said what a great thing it was that I had had myself circumcised. She says she might not have started going out with me if I had a foreskin.

Most of my female friends and all my gay male friends love cut penises and hate foreskin with a passion.

Getting circumcised was one of the smartest things I’ve ever done. However, it hasn’t dampened my enthusiasm (it’s possibly an obsession) for reading and talking about the subject, especially stories from women about how much they love circumcised penises.

I think my life, and certainly my teenage years, would have been significantly different if my parents had had me circumcised as an infant. It’s a subject I’ve never talked to them about and would be too embarrassed, considering they know how I feel (but they don’t know I’ve had it done) and know I used to play doctors with my young friend. All I can say is that I’m so glad that I’m now rid of the ugly bit of excess skin that once covered my penis and would encourage any uncut man to do it without hesitation.

School Physicals

I was actually surprised at some of the messages concerning school physicals. In the States where I grew we had school physicals every year. I remember these as being very embarrassing events. I went to a catholic high school and thought the process might be more modest but was I wrong. We were all told to line up in the boys locker room and strip down to our underwear. We would go single file into the examination room. There our school nurse and doctor would be present and the first thing the doctor would ask for would be a urine sample. The nurse would take a cup and follow us into the bathroom and ask us urinate in front of her. She had to make sure we would not substitute with a friends sample. When I took my penis out she immediately noticed that I was uncircumcised and told me to pull back my foreskin and wash underneath it with a moist towellete. It was obvious she disapproved of my still-intact foreskin.  She then stood there watching until I had given the sample which took a long time with her watching.

The doctor would then get to checking the testicles and penis. I would lower my underwear to my ankles and he would make me cough. Then he would spend five minuets examining my foreskin. As my foreskin was quite tight it was difficult for him to expose my head. He would ask me if I could masturbate okay with it and some other really embarrassing questions. I distinctly remember the nurse saying to the doctor "He really should be circumcised."  The word sent a shiver up my spine.  The doctor ultimately did send a note to my parents recommending circumcision. I fought my parents on the issue and was not circumcised. I later realized that was a mistake, and eventually planned my own circumcision as an adult.

Anonymous (USA)

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Uncut Aussie's Desire for Circumcision

I grew up uncircumcised in Australia at a time that around 60 - 70% of kids were cut. As you can see in my pictures, I'm still uncut, but work hard to make it look like I'm circumcised.

My mum opposed the idea of circumcision as unnatural and unnecessary. As I got to primary school I noticed that there  was a difference between me and most of the other kids in the showers after  sport. I coined the terms 'innies' and 'outies' to describe what I saw. I  didn't know it was the result of an operation. I just saw the difference. It  seemed that most of the popular kids were circ'd and I was a bit envious.  When I was about 5 or 6 I was playing with the next door neighbour's kids in  a paddock with long grass. During a break in playing hide and seek, we were  talking and Leon, the older of the two brothers, suggested we got our dicks  out to compare them. I was a bit nervous but we all did it and they showed  me their bare-headed cocks with the skin coming up neatly behind the rims  and thought they were kind of cool. Leon also showed me how when he pulled  the shaft skin up and and over the rim of his knob, it snapped back  immediately. I showed them how mine worked. They asked how come my dick  looked different and I remember saying I didn't know. I must have got some  grass caught in my fly or something because when I got home my mother asked  me what I had been doing. Another incident that sparked my interest in the  nature of penises was when I was staying at another neighbour's place one  night and I was getting changed into my pajamas. The daughter of the family  who at 8 or 9, was a couple of years older than me came into the room just  as I had my pants down and saw my dick and looking surprised said, "What's  that?" I showed her and pulled back my foreskin so she could see my knob.  She looked a bit taken aback, but kind of curious at the same time. I assume  now that her elder brother must have been circumcised. Either that or she  lead a very sheltered existence. Another thing that happened was once when I  was taking a bath, my mother came in and noticed that I had my foreskin  pulled back ( I had already discovered that I liked the sensation) and told  me off for playing with my 'little fella'. Needles to say, it didn't stop  me. By the time I was about 10 I had found out about circumcision and would  sometimes masturbate to the mantra "circ'y, fore'y, circ'y, fore'y" as I  pulled the sensitive skin back and forward over my super-sensitive knob.

When I was 12 I went into hospital and I remember the kid next to me was in to be circumcised and I was dying to ask him if I could check it out, but I  realized that with all the bandaging, it would have been impossible to see  anything. I do remember though that he had a hard time pissing for the first  few days and he complained that it hurt. I also remember that the nurse who  gave me a bed bath was really pretty and that I deliberately rolled back my  foreskin before she washed me as I was a little bit embarrassed about it.

At 14 I went to boarding school where the dorm culture centered heavily  around wanking and circumcision, with only the circs allowed to participate  in circle jerks and to use the highly-valued commodity of Vaseline as lube.  In order to be able to be a part of the scene, I seriously thought about the  idea of getting circ'd while I was at home on school holidays. I told one of  the cut guys that I knew I could trust about what I was thinking about  doing. He ended up dissuading me, saying that all the kids would call me  "axeman" or "chop boy" or some other name and that I would get teased even  more. To this day I am not sure if I made the right decision.

Since that time I have worn my foreskin back most of the time and have even  gotten a great deal of pleasure from the taping technique I got from this  site. I can hold that skin back and bare fist it with the best of them.  There have been times when I have considered self-circumcision but have not  wanted to risk something going wrong or ending up with a less-than-perfect  result. I have never had any negative comments from women as the skin is not  very long and I keep it back most of the time (it just stays there by  itself, mostly) and I wash very carefully. I also don't think women are as  gung-ho pro-circumcision here in Australia as they are in the U.S.

A more recent incident helped to activate my latent interest in  circumcision. A few years ago I was on a ski trip in Japan. I ended up in a  room with my girlfriend and a mutual (male) friend. After a dip in the hot  spring bath, I went back to the room. The friend was there but my girlfriend  wasn't. Next thing I knew I was in bed with this guy and I was playing with  his circumcised schlong. I was so fascinated by the mechanics of it, the  tightness of the skin and the way it pulled on his bare knob. As this was  going on, my girlfriend walked in on us. She was not into a 3-some, so I  went over to her and we lay down and made some of the most passionate love  we have ever made, right in front of this guy (poor frustrated  bloke...ha,ha), me fuelled by the thought of his hard, tight-cut dick.

I really get off on the idea of a ceremony conducted by women as a great way  of getting done and like the idea of a high and tight, hand-done by a  re-section. I haven't done it yet because at the end of the day I like the  choice of having the skin for the odd occasion where it really comes in  handy (forgive the pun). That doesn't mean though that if the situation were  right that I wouldn't come at the idea - quite the opposite. I love this  site and am grateful to the guys who have put so much effort into putting it  together and making it such high quality. It really filled out a big  uncharted area of my sexual map and it has taught me a lot about myself and  made my life much richer.

Reed (Australia)

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Growing up uncut, I always wondered what it would feel like to be circumcised. Before going ahead with the procedure, I developed a way to "test drive" my penis in the circumcised state. Click Here to find out how to feel cut, before you have the procedure done.

Nigel (UK)

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I can relate one other experience of a high school classmate of mine. He was also uncut and his name was Opie. In fact, in my school of 300 boys, there were six of us uncut boys. However, he was the only "sports jock" in our uncut group. Opie was always very mean to me publicly and did his best to make sure everyone knew he hated me. Finally, when we were Seniors, we found ourselves together in the lockeroom at the Football stadium. I was there for band practice, he for track practice. It was well after practice ended and he actually spoke to me. Opie told me that he was teased by the other jocks on the football and track teams about being like me. "Were we brothers" or maybe "sisters", his teamates had said. We had the same dicks, they teased. He told me that his Dad and brothers  had skin too, and that they didn't seem to mind. He said he really was angry at his father for not having him circumcised and wondered why I wasn't circ'd. We talked for a while and he said he was sorry about the way he had treated me. But, just because we talked now, not to expect him to speak to me in public. He ignored me after that, and the more obusive attitude stopped.

Interestingly, I was never teased for my uncut skin. I was ignored in the showers. It was just me who was embarrassed about having a long foreskin. Skin was OUT when I was a boy. Girls and boys sometimes refused to suck it. (I was a cheese head, then... and the skin wouldn't stay back.) But, as an adult, foreskin in the gay world has become very popular. I was at a New year's party and the cut/uncut subject came up. Everyone seemed to know I was the only uncut one, and all of the RIC's said how lucky I was and how they would leave kids uncut. I explained the problems of my skin, smell, torn frenulum, etc. and my lover said that spontaneous sex was pretty much out, as he didn't like the smell.

Dave (US)

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In Junior High School I Quickly Realized I was Quite Different

I've been enjoying this group - the message boards, discussion, photos, etc., and I thought I'd take a minute to share my circumcision story. I was cut in September of 1999 when I was 38 years old, but the path leading to my decision to have the procedure done actually started quite a long time before.

In Junior High and High School, I quickly realized that I was quite different from almost every other boy in my P.E. classes. It was particularly odd in Junior High, when a couple of boys asked me why I had "extra" skin! Everyone else, it seemed to me, had very pleasing and rather attractive looking penises and it was kind of unpleasant to be the 'odd one out'. In High School, I saw another boy with a foreskin in the gym showers for the first time - and he was an exchange student from Sweden.

After school, I joined the military and in basic training there was one other guy, a young Latino from Texas, who was uncut. I remember a couple of the guys kind of making fun of his rather long and hanging foreskin. No comments were ever made to me to my face, but I wondered if any of those guys talked about my penis in a derogatory way when I wasn't around.

In my late 20s I noticed, from time to time, a bit of a red rash that would appear on the head, underneath the foreskin, from time to time. On one occasion I thought I might have contracted some sort of STD and went to a clinic to be tested. I was negative. This rash would continue to come and go, and would always occur on different places around the head. I eventually consulted my doctor, who prescribed a cortisone cream. Another problem during this time was the issue of keeping my penis clean. No matter how well I washed my penis - and I would carefully pull back the skin and wash very thoroughly in the shower (sometimes MORE than once a day even!) I still had a problem both with the recurrent rash and with smegma. It was highly annoying.

Over the course of the next several years, I saw several doctors, had innumerable refills of cortisone cream, and a continuing problem. I was diagnosed with a condition that has the rather strange name of Lichen Planus. One dermatologist I consulted actually suggested that my penis needed to be even MORE moist than it was. He recommended I pull back the skin each morning after my shower, and slather the head with Vaseline, then pull the skin back over the head. That seemed ridiculous to me and, furthermore, an extremely messy business in my underwear!

Finally, in early 1999 with yet another recurrence of a rash on my penis, I consulted my primary doctor and - as a last ditch effort - asked him if he thought a circumcision would provide any relief to my ongoing problem. He thought about it for a moment and then told me that yes, it might be possible that it would help. But, he would need to send me to a urologist for an examination. He mentioned that there were a number of urologists in my medical system that were against circumcisions on principle, so he would try to recommend someone who would be sympathetic to my case.

So, with some trepidation I went to my appointment with the urologist - and after examination we talked about the possibility of circumcision and he thought that I would benefit from the procedure. He told me that the lichen planus diagnosis would not be enough to authorize the circumcision (and therefore have my medical plan pick up the cost) so he was also going to note that I had a short frenulum, which hindered retraction of the foreskin. This was a very kind thing for him to do, and something that he absolutely did not have to do for me. Because, unlike some foreskins, mine was fairly loose and the skin would fully retract well below the head of the penis with no difficulty.

The procedure was approved and my surgical date was set for late September 1999. I opted to be fully anesthetized for the surgery, and afterwards woke up in the recovery room, where I was taken to the bathroom in order to urinate. The nurses needed to ensure that I could pass fluids before I would be released. It was quite odd to look down at all of the white gauze wrapped around the shaft and just the end of the head poking out!

I have been very happy with the circumcision and am quite pleased to report that since September 1999, I have not had even a single recurrence of lichen planus - and no smegma either!

Thanks for letting me share my story - and thanks for this great website.

Tony (USA)

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For as long as I could remember I hated having a foreskin and admired the penises of my circumcised friends.

As a small child, another uncut friend and I used to 'circumcise' each other by pretending to be doctors. We would lie on the bed and take turns in pulling each others' foreskin right back until they were sleek and looked well circumcised. We called the 'dick skin pullbacks'. We thought it was too late for us to be circumcised. We also tried, in vain, to keep our foreskins back with rubber bands and sticky tape.  By the way, my father was circumcised, but my grandfather, my brothers, most sons of family friends and all my male cousins were not.

I went to a primary school with many kids of Greek and Italian descent, none of whom were cut. Most of the 'Australian' kids, who made up the bulk of my friends, were circumcised, which made me feel left out.  My fascination with the subject grew. When I reached puberty I fooled around a few times with a circumcised friend who had a fantastic, sleek penis that I was immensely jealous of. I wanted to have one just like him, with no visible circ scar and a tight cut.  Around this time I again tried to keep my foreskin back with rubber bands, super glue and tape. Nothing worked.  I also realised, to my joy, that the foreskin could be pulled back when I masturbated. God only knows why I hadn't thought of this earlier.  What a revelation!

When I started to have girlfriends I hated them seeing my penis. I thought the foreskin was ugly (although, as far as foreskins go, mine wasn't that bad).  A couple of them had had guys with cut cocks before and told me they liked that better ('they're smoother', 'it feels better', etc). I also hated the feeling of my foreskin rolling around inside. With one of my girlfriends, there was a 'click' each time I withdrew, which did not add to the experience.  I always used to pull back my foreskin when I went to the toilet and like to keep it pulled back. Invariably it would roll back over the glans, catching pubic hair on the way. Most uncomfortable!

In my early 20s, I made a device to keep my foreskin back during sex. I couldn't believe how good it felt.  At the time I was seeing a girl who had no strong feelings about circumcision one way or the other although said it felt better with my foreskin held back during sex. Unfortunately, despite prompting, she did not tell me that she would like it if I got cut. If she had, it would have been an immense turn-on.  It was then that I took the plunge and went to see a doctor, who referred me to a specialist who did the operation about a month later.

He cut me about 1cm to 1.5cm back from the glans. I am fairly happy with the results, although would have liked to have the scar a bit further back.  I was having sex within about five weeks and couldn't believe how different it was. Instead of feeling the skin, I could feel my girlfriend's vagina enveloping my penis right to the base, a feeling that was totally new to me.  She says she didn't really notice the difference, although said she could feel the head of my penis more.

It was, and still is, amazing seeing the bare head of my penis every time I went to the toilet, showered or masturbated; it was a sight I thought I would never see. When I had a foreskin, I would hide my penis from everyone. I hated people to see it. Now I am proud of it and love people to know that I have a beautifully sleek, cut penis hanging between my legs.  My the girlfriend, now wife, found out by chance (in my presence, very embarrassing) from another friend that I was not cut as an infant. I already knew she hated foreskins, and she repeatedly said since what a great thing it was that I had had myself circumcised. She says she would not have started seeing me if I had had a foreskin.

Most of my female friends and all my gay male friends love cut penises and hate foreskin with a passion.  Getting circumcised was one of the smartest things I've ever done.  However, it hasn't dampened my enthusiasm (it's possibly an obsession!) for reading and talking about the subject, especially stories from women about how much they love circumcised penises.  I think my life, and certainly my teenage years, would have been significantly different if my parents had had me circumcised as an infant. I think I certainly would have been more sexually active had I not been so aware and embarrased of my foreskin.  It's a subject I've never talked to my parents about and would be too embarrased to, considering they know how I feel (but they don't know I've had it done) and know I used to play doctors with my young friend.  >From some asides they've made I believe they think it's their one failure as parents. I would tend to agree.  But who knows, if they had done it, I might have resented it and now be in the process of restoring my foreskin (although I like to hope not!).

All I can say is that I'm so glad that I'm now rid of the ugly bit of excess skin that once covered my penis and would encourage any uncut man to do it without hesitation.   I have never missed my foreskin and don't think I ever will.

Anonymous (Australia)

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Until I was circumcised at the age of 20, I always had trouble with my  foreskin or because of it. My foreskin, when I had it, was very long -  it would overhang the glans by up at least an inch when my penis was  very flacid and small. When my penis was erect, the foreskin would not  retract on its own and would still cover the glans completely - I would  have to manually retract the skin to expose my glans.

The glans used to get irritated, even though I would clean under my  foreskin regularly -or attempt to. When I was about 9 I had an  inflammation of the foreskin and glans and the doctor suggested that I be  circumcised, but my mother was very set against it, and so it was just  treated with antibiotics and a cream of some sort. Irritations and so on  continued for much longer.

Most of the boys at the schools I went to were cut - about 80% at least.  I like the look of circumcised cocks, and think foreskins are repulsive  to look at, as well as unhygienic. Having a foreskin made me feel  inferior, and I always wanted to be cut.

Specific problems with having a (long) foreskin: 

1) Semen would get trapped under the skin after masturbation at night,  and if not washed off immediately would cause the glans and foreskin to  smell bad.

2) When my penis was flaccid, it would be much smaller than when erect,  and when I was wore briefs my foreskin would fold over, under the glans.  In that position it would be held firmly, and then later if my penis  became erect or even semi-erect the effect of the glans swelling and  shaft lengthening would be to pull on the foreskin which couldn't move,  and that would cause quite a bit of pain at times.

3) When I tried to prevent what was described in 2) above by retracting  my foreskin behind the glans, it would be okay for a while, but the  tendency was for the foreskin to return to covering the glans. Invariably, in the process, pubic hairs would be caught between foreskin  and glans and pulled quite hard, also causing quite a bit of pain.

4) The small glans around the ridge of the glans would get clogged and  get very sensitive even when I washed under the foreskin daily or twice  daily.

5) On camping trips, it is not possible to clean under one's foreskin  usually, since it is often hard to find opportunities to bathe anyway.  This makes cleanliness problems worse.

I felt asking to be circumcised was a bit silly - it was not until I was  twenty that I had the courage to ask for a circumcision. The surgeon  that my family doctor referred me to initially treated the request with a  bit of a smirk, though he admitted it was a reasonable request later. I  did not feel that comfortable discussing issues with him, and it never  felt comfortable enough to ask how much skin he would remove or the  technique he would use. I was also not aware of issues like proportions  of inner and outer foreskin etc.

An appointment was made for my circumcision - it was performed under a  general anaesthetic, and I spend one night in hospital. I was given a  pain killer injection after the operation and never felt any pain from  the circumcision itself.

I was active a couple of days after the operation. The stitches were  removed about 2 weeks later, (some of them had unraveled until then). Some inflammation occurred in the parts of the wound a few days after the  operation, and those areas have been more scarred than the rest, sort of  keloidy or hypertrophic in nature, even after 10 years.  I wish I had been circumcised as a boy.

Paul

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I was left uncircumcised when I was born in the early 60's due to European immigrant parents who were strongly opposed, even though the MD wanted to do it. In this part of Canada around 80% of boys were done at birth at that time. I certainly did feel odd in that I was different, but more so because I only discovered what circumcision was, around age 9 or 10. I thought most boys were born with a bare glans, and had no idea what was wrong with me that mine was covered with skin. This is probably where I obtained my interest in circumcision.

For a long time I did want to be circumcised, and fantasized about it frequently. I found that if I left the foreskin retracted until the glans dried, I could last longer while masturbating, and the orgasm was prolonged, but the intensity was noticably less. I tried very hard for a month to keep my foreskin retracted all the time when I was 15, but the skin just wouldn't stay back. A few uncut boys did manage to keep it back all the time. Part of the problem was "adolescence, the 5 year erection!" My penis over doubles in length from flaccid to erect, and that played havoc with keeping the skin back. Plus my shaft is thick and my glans is only slightly wider. Evenutually I gave up. Whenever I retracted my foreskin at this time of raging hormones I would get an instant erection, which would almost never go down for an incredibly long time unless I masturbated. I could however retract to urinate without an erection, as long the sensitive glans did not touch anything. I started to retract while urinating when I was around 8 or 9. At home, my foreskin would fill with urine due to a long overhang, and I would use toilet paper to stop the drip into my underwear. I noticed none of the boys did that at school, and would use the urinal and just shake and zip up quickly. But of course most of them were circumcised. I then realised if I retracted before I urinated I would stay clean, and have been doing so ever since. Once I started masturbating at age 12, my foreskin rapidly shrank to its present length of right at the meatus while flaccid, and just barely over the corona when erect. But it will manually retract fully behind the corona and stay there during intercourse.

I always wonder if my fascination with circumcision would have been less intense if I would have known what it is much earlier, and if someone would have told me to retract before voiding before I entered school. My parents would never have done this as these topics were rarely discussed, and then only uncomfortably.

I never had any problems with my foreskin, and remember in Kindergarten enjoying nap time because I got to lye on a blanket on the floor on my stomach, and if I pressed my pelvis into the floor I could roll back the foreskin and get a very pleasurable sensation and erection. So I guess my foreskin must have retracted early and easily. I have never had any infections. I did get lots of smegma when in early adolescence, but that decreased considerably as I got into my middle and late teens, plus I began to wash daily not every other day. Now I never notice any powerful odor before my next daily shower. I guess different penises make different amounts of smegma, not unlike dry vs. oily vs. normal skin or hair.

My wife prefers the uncut penis, and I have slowly over the years learned to accept my penis as it is. Most of my sensitivity is in the frenulum which is long and very thin, and causes no pulling on the foreskin at all even during full erection. That, the fear of pain, and the worry that I would lose frenular and maybe other sensetivity kept me from getting cut when I was younger. I guess now I'm settling into my mid 30's, and am more accepting of things as they are!

If I have a son, I would never circumcise him at birth, as I do believe the baby circ is much more traumatic than an adult circ as the foreskin must be torn from the glans to be separated, frequently too much skin is taken, and mistakes do occur. I do beleive the health benefits espoused can be had with soap and water and not only a knife. My wife feels the same. However if a son would ever want it done later, I would ensure he has thought through the pros and cons carefully, and would fully support his desicion to be circumcised. And of course as an adult, he can do with his body whatever he wants, including any sort of body modification, even if I do think some I have seen on some websites are completely extreme! But hey, everyone has self determination, no matter what others think. And that is why I could never take away his choice in such an important matter as his penis. Remember Woody Allen as the court jester in "Everything you ever wanted to know about sex but were afraid to ask": "Cut off my head?! What?! What?! My head?! That's my second favorite organ!" If he wants to be cut, go for it. If I do it for him, he can never make the reverse choice.

I'm glad so many of you 'listers are so pleased with your self chosen circumcised status. It is very interesting to hear how you all came to your decisions, and what you think now. If it's been right for you, I'm very pleased. I still occaisonally fantasise about what it would be like to be permanently bared, but I know it's only a fantasy, and I'm OK as I am. I feel content to have come to this emotion. But please keep the stories and discusions going. That's what makes this and great list!

Jeff H. (Canada)

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I’ve read on Circlist some other guys comments on their circumcision experience, and for the first time I felt that I was not the only guy in the world to be truly happy with my circumcision status, and the fact that I am absolutely fascinated by the subject. This has had a dramatic impact on my life almost as much as my original childhood circumcision.

In fact to this day talking about circumcision, seeing other circumcised males and anything to do with circumcision turns me on. I've never dared share this with anyone except my wife, who understands, accepts and to be truthful finds it a bit titillating. But I’d like to would to tell my story if only to get the words down “on paper”, Since seeing your site a few months ago I have stopped being embarrassed by my love of circumcision, my feelings are real, and good and true. I know I am not alone in this!

I am happily married, enjoy a great sex life, but appreciate the male circumcised body. Living an active life in Sydney, Australia I get to see a lot of guys in gyms, beach change rooms etc and always enjoy a good look around. I have nothing against my uncut brothers (except a little pity maybe) but I don’t find them in the slightest bit appealing to look at. On the other hand a nice cut, bare glans seems to look so right so cute, I especially like men with smaller dicks like myself, but I have yet to see circumcision I didn’t like. I like being part of the cut crowd have done ever since arriving in Australia as a young boy in the 70’s and finding myself in circumcision heaven. I read recently that circumcisions are on the rise here again, hooray for that!

For me circumcision is a powerful masturbatory image (if that’s the right term). I’m no sleaze bag, in fact I’m considered a bit too nice and kind for my own good. It’s just that I love humanity and for me circumcision, (for whatever reason) is deep in my psyche I’m no longer ashamed by that, and have learned to enjoy those things that turn me on.

Circumcision certainly altered my body but it also left a profound and positive imprint on my mind, changed my view of the world and left me an infinitely better person for the experience, though it has taken a long time and much heartache to realize that!

As a kid I liked “mucking around” i.e. mutual masturbation with other circumcised guys, but also enjoyed sex with girls.   I’m turned on by the thought that other guys like circumcision as much as I do maybe more.  My story is attached, sorry if it's a bit long...but it is a vivid memory for me, one that I can remember in great detail and with much fondness. Such a significant event that it has shaped my life ever since, indeed the fact that I am writing this is I feel proof of that.

Darren Jones

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I became interested in circumcision at a very young age. I was born in the USA in 1978 and was not circumcised. My parents had become "enlightened" by the anti-circ crowd.

My dad was circumcised, but my younger brother and I weren't. I was always upset because I wanted to look just like my father and everyone else. I still, to this day, have never seen a foreskin, besides from my brother’s and mine. As a child and teenager, I always felt very uncomfortable about having a foreskin. I was constantly being teased by other boys and men in club locker rooms. Things got even worse when I went to high school. I was the laughing stock of the entire gym class when we showered and dressed. I was the only one with a foreskin. I hated it.

I almost never got head or sex was hard to find because of my foreskin, which gave off an intolerable stench, despite the fact that i washed it at least twice a day. On one of the few occasions when I could persuade a girl to look beyond my foreskin and give me head anyway, my foreskin was ripped and torn on her braces, which never happens now that I am sans my foreskin. My foreskin was removed when I was 16 (Thank God), becuase I was just so annoyed, irritated, and embarresed by it. I am so happy I got it done.

My younger brother is soon to be circumcised, once he saw how good mine turned out. I love my circumcised penis. I have absolutly no problem getting head or having sex with girls now, in fact, I have had to turn a few down after my circ. I strongly recommend parents seriously consider the disadvantages (both physical and emotional) to leaving their sons uncircumcised. Both my brother and I will definitely circumcise any sons of ours.

Paul (USA)

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Hi. My name's Tony and I was circumcised when I was 28, at my own request. I was born and live in Singapore and I am a Buddhist. My circumcision is moderately tight, and the scar is about 1/4 inch below ridge of the glans. I have still a little frenulum left to provide great sexual pleasure.

I am absolutely happy with my circumcision and I find that it is much cleaner. No more problems of pubic hair getting caught in between the former foreskin and glans. My penis has a better appearance as the  glans is much thicker due to the fact that it is not constricted by the foreskin. I experiencing a different sexual feeling with longer sexual pleasures. Due to the thinker  glans it appears to me that my penis shows better in tights and look more appealing because there is no more wrinkle foreskin hanging over the  glans. I do experience the presents of smegma, redness and uncomfortable feeling. My penis stays cleaner because there is no more urine accumulating between the foreskin and  glans.

I love the circumcised look of my penis and when I masturbate, it's larger and no more extra skin to restrict my erection. I personally experience less itch. Sexual intercourse pleasures takes a longer time plus no more premature ejaculations.

I procrastinated to long for almost 6 years because of fear of pain and lack of knowledge of the benefits. In looking back over the ten years of my circumcised state, I feel that I should have done it earlier. However, due to cost and opportunity of having it done delay my circumcision.

I had my circumcision done about 10 years ago. I went to a urologist and express my desire to be circumcised. He explained the procedure and the changes of being circumcised. He pointed out that due to the  glans being exposed over time, the  glans will loose sensitivity and develop a think dry skin. I went in the morning for surgery and was prep for surgery. I underwent general anesthesia and at that time I was not well verse with the procedure of circumcision.

I do recall when the anesthesia took effect shortly after the mask was place over my face. I work up with a slight hang over feeling. Nurse reassured me that the surgery went well. The first thing I did was to look at my new state. My penis was not erect and it was bundled up in thick dressing of gauge. I noticed blood round the gauge.

When the anesthesia wore out , I felt the soreness round my penis area. I was wheeled out on a wheel chair that same day. Pain killers were prescribed but I did not consume any. The first few days was soreness round the stitched area and my consciousness of the pain being more due to erection did not help at all.

In about two weeks, the stitches healed and I tried masturbating as I have been deprived of it since the surgery. It was a new experience and the anxiety caused me to take longer time to attained orgasm. I did not used lubricant then because I did not realized that a circumcised state requires a longer time to reach orgasm.

The soreness lessen and I used neosporin and gauge everyday after a shower. The removal of wet gauge was most challenging and caused excruciating pain because of the raw wound. Overtime my penis  glans gradually loose its softness and gradually showed signs of dryness. At that point I was wondering whether I did the right thing. I was fearful of loosing the joy of my sexual pleasures as my new state was a new adventure. I noticed heavy secretion of natural lubricant coming out form the meatus. Over the years the feeling around the surgery area gradually had a change in feeling.

I used to masturbate without lubricant prior to my circumcised state. I read in the book that it is best to use lubricant like abolene and lots of it. Today, I masturbate with massive amounts of lubricant and stimulate my entire shaft and penis  glans. I find that due to this exercise in masturbation, my  glans head has thicken considerably in size. I am truly proud of the increase in size due to my circumcision ten years ago. I now can masturbate three times a day and enjoy every moment of it with no soreness which I used to have being uncircumcised.

My scare line is still there but gradually blending in with the tissue around my shaft. After careful observation, I realized the the urologist removed a great deal of my foreskin. I am very happy he did as my penis is always tight in appearance whether it is flaccid or erect. When it is flaccid, there is hardly any bunching up of skin the skin. I noticed that he left my frenulum intact as I still have the web tissue. However, being constantly exposed I feel my frenulum has lost much of its sensitivity likewise with my thicken penis  glans. I have seen penises where circumcision was done in infant stage and frenulum totally removed. Now I feel that due to lost in the frenulum sensitivity, I would have preferred that the urologist that did my circumcision removed the entire frenulum because it has a cleaner look. Don't get me wrong, I still like the appearance of my circumcised penis. I am glad I made the decision of being circumcised and thought I did as an adult, I had the privilege of experiencing in both forms.

After experiencing both states of uncut and cut, I have to admit that the there is lost in sensitivity on the glans area, although for me this was good as I was overly sensitive before. I have to agreed that due to this, I now enjoy a different sexual experience that in longer and a definitely better looking penis. If I have sons, I definitely will have them circumcised at birth or just after puberty age. My father was circumcised and during my younger days I was confused on why his penis had a huge head and my wasn't. We did not discuss this issue. Now I am proud to be just like my old man and I feel that he should have shared this knowledge with me when I was in puberty. Now I look at my circumcised state and I tell myself, dad, my looks just like yours "the big exposed penis head that is rough in texture and dark in color". Though I do not blamed my father for not having me circumcised, at least he allowed me to have the choice and decision. However, if he had me circumcised as a child I would be proud of his decision.

Now I can have sexual intercourse with greater pleasure and multiple times with no soreness and burning sensations. My penis is many times cleaner with no redness, bleeding, and smegma. My masturbation experiences can last for more than an hour with multiple orgasm and round after round with endless pleasures. With the aid of lubricant, there is no limits of the times I can masturbate and have orgasms in one session. I penis is ready to go again even after orgasm after working my penis over half hour. I am truly proud of my state and would not hesitate to share the benefits of being circumcised. My interest in circumcision is with a passion and I strongly feel that I being a voluntary circumcised adult need to contribute to advocate and spread the facts of circumcision. My passion on this issue is to voice my facts of my circumcised state so that the anti-circ organization are muted.

I strongly encourage adults who had circumcision done like myself to play a bigger role. Lets share our great circumcised state globally and be proud of our "thick penis head that provides cleanliness, looks, countless and numerous sexual pleasures. To all circumcised males we need to unite and voice louder. Happy circ states and spread the word!

Tom (Singapore)

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I was born in the UK in 1954. I have a fairly tight circ, with an uneven scarline about 1.5 cms from the corona and no frenulum. When erect, I cannot pull any of the remaining foreskin over my glans, but I still have movement in the shaftskin. When flacid, there is a small amount of bunching behind the corona and because sometimes I shrink a lot, the shaftskin actually covers the corona giving the exact "acorn" effect - like when it is very cold, or I have been sitting for a long time. It is actually uncomfortable when this happens, as it tends to get slightly moist again - I much prefer it to be dry and smooth and am very happy being circumcised.

For as long as I can remember, my foreskin was thick and loose, and it fully covered my glans with a small amount of overhang. I could always fully retract it without problems. When I reached puberty, the smegma production started in a big way, and being very conscious of the very pungent smell, I was sometimes quite embarrassed. You see, with a very loose foreskin, the smell could easily get out, and air could easily get in meaning that the bacteria causing the smell could increase very quickly.

I had to wash at least two or three times a day, just to keep it acceptable. My foreskin, being so loose, could ride back and forth and trap hairs, and of course, during sexual intercourse it was like having sex with yourself, as the glans just moved back and forth inside the sleeve of skin. I accepted my status however, as being normal, until I contacted an infection when I was 32, and was advised that the only permanent cure was circumcision. These matters are very personal, and it was highly embarrassing for me to have to explain my problem to a Doctor in the first place, so the thought of recurrent problems were enough for me to seek a private surgeon to rid me of the problem once and for all. I did not have the wealth of information to hand that there is now about all the different types of op etc. and did not discuss the outcome with the Surgeon, but after all had healed up, I was not happy with the state I had been left in. The circ was very loose, and I still had about a third of my foreskin left which could cover my glans, which meant that I still had my smegma problem. To add to this, there was more skin on the left side than the right, which was quite noticable, and made me very coy in changing rooms, for the fear that my lopsided skin would be spotted. I therefore decided that having gone thus far, I would find another Surgeon who would sort it out for me ( I did not want to trust the first one again!). This I did, and was circumcised for a second time. I discussed my problems with the Surgeon, and he made a very good job of it. I am very happy with the result - it is cosmetically good, my smegma problem has gone completely, and it's propensity to give me pleasure is much greater than when I had a foreskin. In my case, I have unexpectedly benefited from the operation, so much in fact that I wish I had been done as a child.

I knew what a circumcised penis looked like from a very early age, as my Father is circumcised, but to start with, I did not know that his penis had been surgically altered. In my childlike naivety, I thought that when I grew up, my glans would protrude from my foreskin, just like Dad's, so I looked forward to the day when mine would be like his. We never discussed sexual matters at home, and it wasn't until I went to Senior school at eleven years of age (where we had communal open-plan changing rooms) that I saw another boy with a miniature version of Dad's penis, and my curiosity and interest in circumcision really began.

Out of about sixty boys in my group, only four were circumcised. We did not discuss such things in those days, so I do not know the reasons for two of them, but one was borne in India, the son of a Military Father, and the fourth, who became a friend, told me one day that he had been done due to an infected foreskin when he was 6. This came up in the middle of a conversation about all the things he had been into Hospital for, so I id not question him further. There was never any ribbing of the circumcised lads at school.

Now I realized that I was uncircumcised, and accepted the fact, although I still wished then that I had been done, so as to be like Dad and those other four lads, never thinking that one day I would be. As a matter of interest, no-one in my group had a circumcision during our five years of communal showers, but a few years later, an old school chum came up to me in a pub to say hello. During our brief conversation (he was on his way to the toilet at the time, and his girlfriend was waiting for him in the other bar) he said that the next week, he had to go into hospital to be circumcised, as he had split his foreskin during his first sexual encounter. I remembered that he had a long tight foreskin, and was not surprised at the news. He seemed quite unconcerned, and I wished him well, then said "well they say it is better for you anyway", to which he agreed. I must admit that I felt a slight envy for him at the time.

Many years later, but mainly after I too was circumcised, have I taken a stronger interest in the subject, and have read many articles in books and on the Internet. If anyone ever broached the topic with me now, I could certainly keep up a conversation for ages about it, not that anyone has as yet!

Anthony (UK)

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I grew up as a first generation American, my parents were from Yugoslavia.  They of course didn't have me circumcised and I grew up feeling very awkward and ashamed of my uncut penis. I had a healthy foreskin, never had a physical problem, just a very bad self image of my body.  I dated a girl when I was a freshmen in high school and we would always "fool around" in the dark because I did not want her to see my uncut penis.  She would use her hand on me, all that did was make the skin go up over the head and back, with no real sense of pleasure.  I could not talk with her about it because of shyness and fear she might get really turned off by the sight of "it".  We broke up and because of my uncut status I chose not to date for years.  Shortly thereafter I approached my parents about getting circumcised, but it was refused as unnecessary and done only for religious reasons.

My parents and I don't get along much these days and I still find I am upset with them for not having me circumcised, either at birth or when I requested it.   At 20 I scheduled a appointment and proceeded to get cut. Following the surgery I awoke to the feeling of, "finally it is done".  I'm much happier now and have a healthy sex life.

Z (USA)

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I had no problems with my uncut status until I entered school, back then I thought every boy had a long piece of skin hanging from the tip of their penises. I soon realized that my penis as well as my fathers penis was not the norm.

I can remember several instances in the bathroom where all the cut boys showed off how far they could pee with their streamlined cocks. I always wanted to join in, but I was too embarrassed to display my special package. At the age of 6, I became fascinated with the "other pee pees", the ones that were bald. I never told my parents I wanted to have my penis look like everyone else's, I was too scared to ask my father, and I was too embarrassed to ask my mother.

When I was 14, I moved to a new town and became friends with a guy named Tod, who lived down the street. We were both the same age, and we had alot in common, we loved talking about cars, sports, and sex. A couple of months after meeting I slept over Tod's house and realized that we had more in common then just sports, I noticed that he was uncut like me. It took a couple of sleep overs before I got enough courage to ask him how he felt about being uncut. I told him that I was uncut, and I wanted to know if he ever wanted to get cut. I waited for what seemed like several minutes before he responded, with a big smile and wide eyes he said yes!

Apparently Tod had asked his parents if he could get cut, but they told him he had to wait until he was 18, and he had to pay for it himself. Tod waited until he was 18, and managed to get his father to pay for it, after seeing Tod's new look, I decided to get cut a year later, and by the same doctor.

Tod and I are both 26 and happy with the decisions we have made....

Jake (USA)

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I was born in 1968 in the USA. When I was a kid my tight foreskin got stuck in the retracted position a couple of times, once resulting in a trip to the doctor to get it pulled forward (very embarrassing!). In college my room mate was circumcised and we talked a lot about it. I finally decided to have it done one Christmas break. It was done on an out patient basis and under a local anesthetic. Really not much pain and the recovery was OK as well. However, some stitch tunnels were left. I've never wanted to go to the hassle of getting them re-cut. As far as "utility" goes, my new dick works fine. I do miss the ability to jack off by rolling it between my two palms and letting the skin rub the head underneath -- that was really great! However, the irritations and frequent soreness I had with my foreskin are no longer a problem.

Steve (USA)

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I am Chinese born in Indonesia. I was grew up in the Chinese culture so I didn't know much about circumcision. When I was in elementary school, my friend told me that some boys have their penis cut. I didn't believe what he said. It didn't make sense. One day while I watched television, in the news they reported a mass circumcision ceremony. I asked my father what circumcision was, and my father explained that they cut 'just a little bit ' of excess skin off the penis because of religion reasons. Since we are not Moslem, I didn't give further attention to circumcision at that time.

I have been keeping my foreskin retracted since I was 13 year old (I have my first ejaculation at 12). When I first retracted it, I was scared because I hadn't seen my glans penis before. It was a little bit painful because after retracted I got hard-on and the foreskin would not roll back. After wait a while, my penis got flaccid and the foreskin can be rolled again. I promised to myself not to do it again. But after I went back from school, I was curious to do it again. I did it in the bathroom and I can wash it so no more bad smell generated from my penis. After that day, I wash it every bath time (Before that I only wash my penis from outside and no matter how hard I washed it, still has bad smell).

While I was in university, I watched one circumcised guy urinating beside me, I was jealous because his penis has better look than mine. After that experience, I decided I would like to have my penis circumcised, but I don't have guts to do it because I never go to the doctor since my childhood. But as I have always tried to keep by glans bared, I feel I'm ready to be circumcised. Unfortunately, to keep my skin rolled back, I need good, tight, elastic underwear to keep my penis hold tight against my abdomen so the foreskin stay at it's place (behind the glans).

Now I'm a grown up and want to have my foreskin removed. But my boyfriend does not want me to be circumcised as he is afraid my penis may not work properly afterward if something goes wrong. (I'm gay!) So I'm still keep my foreskin hold by my underwear. Your article about retract the foreskin using tape is very interesting. I have test it for few days, and it work very well, because it work even I have loose underwear even without any underwear :) Thanks! Hope someday I am able to have my excess skin removed and have 'high - tight' circumcision.

Herman (Indonesia)

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I was born in 1974 in Australia. I could not pull the skin back as a kid when having to go to the toilet. It hurt a lot and always seem to smell terrible. Most of the kids at boarding school were cut and they didn't have any problems it seemed, and my mates reckoned I should have it off and look like them. I can't remember all the details, but my dad tells me I asked him if I could be circ'd when I was 10 years old - he agreed - he wanted me done after I was born, but the doctor in Sydney would not agree. Second time around he arranged for a Sydney urologist to do the job. When I went back to school my mates reckoned I had a really horny circ.

For me there is no way I would ever want a foreskin restoration or anything like that. I can't believe those who want their foreskin restored ever had one to remember what it is like. My girlfriend has a teenage brother, and sometimes we go surfing together. When he saw me undressed one day he began to get a real hard on. He has a long cock and large balls like me, and a big overhanging foreskin. He hates his foreskin. My girlfriend thinks he should be cut, and he comes and looks at circ sites on my computer because he hasn't got a computer. He wants his scar line as far back down his cock as possible, like mine. We talk about it a bit, and he is almost certainly going to be cut. This web site is really great for both of us!

David (Australia)

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I was born with a long and tight foreskin. Both my parents and the pediatrician were reluctant to have me circumcised. She reassured my parents that no operation would be necessary to resolve my phimosis, some stretching would do. I remember very painful encounters with that doctor at the age of 2-5 years, when she tried to retract the foreskin and break adhesions with a blunt probe (no anesthetic was used). After my parents had move to another city, the problem was "forgotten. Being a little boy, I had no interest in more painful treatment and did not mention that I was still unable to retract my foreskin.

Nobody mentioned to me, however, that there was a simple solution for my problem. As a teenager, I saw other boys in the nude after sports, and some of them were circumcised. I liked the way their penises looked, but still was afraid of the pain and embarrassment my own circumcision could cause. At the age of 16, I asked a boy from my class about his circumcision. He told me that he had been done at the age of 10 and that there was not much pain. He even let me know how to masturbate without a foreskin (just move the rest of the skin up and down the shaft; his shaft skin was not very tight, as I knew from the locker room).

As a university student (age 20), I had myself circumcised, and I was surprised that the procedure caused virtually no pain, but a lot of benefit (hygiene, sexual feelings, attraction). I am very happy to be circumcised, and I wished I had been cut as a newborn baby. Personally I always found a circumcised penis much more attractive than an uncut member and I recommend it to any boy or man.

Martin (Germany)

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I always wanted to have my penis circumcised due to the fact that all of my friends as well as a good majority of my male relatives are circumcised. I had some problems with my foreskin such as tightness, odor and alot of smegma...my decision to have the circumcision was easy...After living in the dorms my first year of college and seeing all the cut cocks in the shower I knew that my foreskin had to go...and If I didn't do it during the summer after my first year of college I would never do it. I set up a consultation with a Urologist recommended by my GP....my Urologist examined my foreskin pulling it back and forth...he suggested that getting cut would be a wise decision...He told me that he had performed many circumcisions on adult men and that my job would be easy....

So two days later I was in the hospital getting my penis circd....A general was used so I couldn't see what the Doc was doing...I woke up 2 hours later anxious to see the result....there was a huge bandage and blood stains...I thought I was cut tight...however when the nurse came in to change the bandage I noticed that alot of skin was left...My sutures were directly under the rim of my gland...however all of my frenulum was removed (surprising considering the amount of skin left)...I am pleased to be cut, but I still would like to have things tightened up...

Jake (USA)

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I can really relate to Rick, I'm still not certain where my obsession came from, but I have a vague memory of another boy in kindergarten school coming back after he'd been done and it to showing me. Plus all my Dad and all my relations were circumcised, so I think I felt left out.

To anyone thinking of having the operation, it does take a bit of courage to get yourself circumcised, you wonder if you'll be self-conscious and unable to get it up, and you worry about losing sensation. However if you've always had the longing, then you won't be disappointed. Having yourself circumcised is a liberating experience, and an incredibly satisfying achievement. You'll be very proud of your new cock and you'll actually feel more, not less, confident with girls. You'll wonder what all the fuss was about. You lose very little in the way of sensation because the new tightness more than compensates. Both masturbation and sex become much more immediate because of the tightness.

Foreskins are fine for babies, but I'm convinced that Someone put them there to be cut off sometime before true manhood is attained. What's more, it is womanhood who has to suffer foreskins, so it is womanhood from where the pressure to circumcise needs to come. It is the mothers who understand this that take the trouble to circumcise their babies, despite an increasingly unhelpful medical profession at least outside the States.

Circumcised and happy with it!

Anonymous (UK)

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I was born and raised in Germany and was not circumcised, as circumcision is not common here. My foreskin overhang length was nearly 2 cm by the time I was an adult. It was occasionally irritated and nearly no feeling by using condoms, because the glans was always covered by skin. Even in the erected position the glans was covered and too sensitive. My physician recommended to shorten the foreskin when I was 23. After 15 minutes operation and a short healing time, the result was not acceptable, as the foreskin formed a girdle round the groove of the glans. So I decided for second operation. The new physician cut off the rest of the foreskin, including the frenulum. Now I'm very happy! No foreskin , no frenulum it makes a big difference: much better sex, looks better, more hygienically and my girl loves it. In Germany very few males are circumcised, so I would like to let my friends know about all the advantages.

Wolf (Germany)

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I'm glad I'm finally circumcised. It is much, much better than having a foreskin. It's as if the foreskin is there specifically to be cut off later on. The debate about when is "later on" will, of course, never be satisfactorily resolved. On the one hand, neonatal circumcision can be interpreted as denying freedom of choice to get circumcised as an adult with the all the pleasure or pain surrounding that event. On the other hand, given the choice, most people probably wouldn't get circumcised as adults; and as the benefits of prophylactic circumcision to the owner and his mate are well documented, it can be argued that routine infant circumcision is, on balance, a sensible measure.

And then there's the tribal thing, the desire to conform, the mental discomfort if you're in the minority. While I wasn't circumcised until I was an adult, I will circumcise my sons.

Paul (US)

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I just read the personal accounts of our new UK member and I find it almost identical to my own! I have gone through exactly the same process of trying to get my glans exposed when I was 14. I was more fortunate in that I went through the entire 'process' much quicker because I guess my skin was not as tight and my frenum was already long enough.

I don't miss a bit of the days when my glans was trapped within the skin. It was sensitive all right, but it was also very filthy, constantly emitting foul smell, and itchy from time to time. I could not even wash it with soap and water because the sensitivity was so high that the glans and the inner skin were painful just to touch. All these problems are gone once the glans is constantly exposed through circumcision.

Thom (A Chinese American)

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My own skin was quite long as a young boy - a definite bunch at the end but not enough to hang down. However I didn't wait till 14 to get it back - I made a determined attempt at age 10 or 11, before puberty started. There was no risk of paraphimosis - the first time I forced it back I promptly got hard and my skin forced itself forward again! Of course having once got it back I kept at it and soon it would retract easily hard or soft.

I suspect it may be because my skin was easily retractable before puberty that it didn't grow in proportion when my cock got bigger, and I went from having quite a long foreskin to having quite a short one. Some of my other friends with long but easily retractable foreskins as little boys went through just the same transition - in some the contrast was even more dramatic than mine, from a really long bunch in front to a more or less bare knob. (I don't mean that they wore their skin back - I mean there wasn't enough to cover). In contrast, a couple of friends who couldn't retract before puberty still had a 'rosebud' of almost equal size (when soft, of course) afterwards.

My hypothesis: that if you go through puberty with a foreskin that won't retract easily, the constant stretching (particularly from the very frequent erections of that age) makes it grow about as much as the rest of the penis, whereas if it's easily retractable, and full or partial erections just strip it back, it doesn't grow much at all. Finally, after being circumcised, I felt much more normal and my sex life improved.

John (UK)

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One subject that caught my eye recently was a posting on the Internet from a couple of guys who kept their foreskins rolled back during adolescence. I thought I was the only person who did that, and was happily surprised to hear that others have done the same.

I remember shortly after seeing my circumcised best friends naked (changing for football in junior high) I knew I wanted my cock to look like theirs. I would constantly keep my foreskin behind the head, and would constantly have to keep rolling back after it had rolled forward. I loved the feeling of having my naked cock head rest in my underwear. It was freeing, it was great.

After years of this, my foreskin will pretty much stay behind the glans (when semi-flaccid) and definitely when erect, but not when it's totally flaccid. To this day, I hate that feeling of constriction when the skin rolls back over my head. Whether it was seeing my friends cut cocks in school, or just the feeling of having a pseudo-circ., I still keep my foreskin retracted. I still do not have the courage to proceed with the circumcision. I almost did once when I was 18, but when the doctor asked why I wanted it, he wouldn't accept my response, which was "because I just want it!". I wish my parents would have circumcised me like all of the other boys!

Christopher (USA)

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My interest in circumcision lasts now for about 20 years. It is a topic which is difficult to discuss (I lived in a small town in Germany and I am not gay ) and difficult to collect information about. circumcision. I even did not dare to speak with friends (some were cut due to religion as they are Muslim) about it as I wanted to keep them as friends - and not to irritate them and tell around that I would be gay or silly. I have consulted numerous libraries, but what you get in the books is only when, why, how", perhaps a drawing and warnings when it should not be performed - and never a description of how it looks afterwards, how much should be left of the foreskin, sensitivity before and after, how to try out the circed state.

At the age of 8, I was sent to a surgeon by my family doctor to find out if I needed to be circed. My foreskin could not be retracted, but did not seem to be too narrow. At that time, I did not even know that it should normally be retractable. Somewhere in the neighbourhood was a boy, one year younger than me, who had been circed shortly before because of phimosis, and an aunt of mine, good friends with the parents of this boy, arranged me to see what the surgeon had done to this boy«s foreskin. Pooh - it was a great shock for me to see his cut penis, looking completely different from mine. The glans was completely uncovered even in the soft status, the skin of the shaft was without any folds. As far as I remember, the boy told me that he had to be circed twice. The first time a dorsal slit, as he had pulled his too narrow foreskin behind the glans, causing a paraphimosis, and the second time removing the rest. He said that it had to be done, but would not have been really fun. I had never seen someone else«s dick before, and also did not know how mine would look like with the foreskin retracted.

Some days later, I had to go to the surgeon (the same who had cut the other boy) in the hospital to find out what had to be done with my dick. I was really upset, fearing that I would also have to be cut twice. I still remember the cold, unfriendly room where I had to undress up to the underwear and wait for the doctor .To mention this first: He was one of the old school, avoiding pain killers or anything that may comfort you - a tough guy - , but not really favouring circumcision. When the doctor was there, I also had to undress my shirt, and had to lay down on a hard, cold surface. He pulled my shorts down to my feet, what would remember me to bondage today, and put on some vinyl gloves. He then pulled the foreskin forward and back as far as he could get it, causing the first pain, as he did it really powerfully for several times.

The next step was to introduce a sound into the urethra to find out if there was something wrong with it. He pushed the thick sound in up to the base of the penis. This was anything but fun, and I remember me crying, what the doc ignored. He just said I should not be that sensitive and be a man. I was not sure at the time, but I now know that he had performed a meatotomy on me.

Then he continued to pull the foreskin back as far as he could get it, and that was really not far at that time. He found out that the foreskin was not too narrow, but there were adhesions between the skin and the glans. He asked the nurse for another sound, this time with aomething like a cutting edge, and started to remove these adhesions, holding the sound in the one hand and retracting the foreskin with the other. This as well was pretty painful, and of course he also did not use any anesthesia. I remember that I really cried loud and started to writhe with pain, but all he did was threatening me and telling me I would never become a man.

When the procedure was over, he stated I did not need to be circumcised (I do not want to know what pain he had given me if I had needed to!), the rest would heal by itself, and added some surgical dressing after having the foreskin retracted. Back at home, I discovered that the whole glans was more or less bloody, and it did hurt some more days. Even peeing did hurt as he had performed a meatotomy.

Fortunately however, after healing the foreskin could now be retracted, but still seemed to be a little bit narrow. I was instructed to pull the foreskin back slowly when sitting in the bath tub. Due to the story above, I was so afraid that I would have to be full circumcised that I also found many other chances to stretch it. It also was a good chance to masturbate. Over the years, the skin has become so wide that today there is no chance to wear the glans free like many uncut men do here in Germany (i.e., constantly retracted.)

Though I do not really have problems with my dick today, I still want to become circumcised. I think my sensitivity of the glans is pretty high, as it never rubs in the underwear and no real chance to change that without surgery. During intercourse I really have to keep control not to be the first". Though I pull the skin back when peeing, there is always a odor of urine under the foreskin, causing a somewhat "dirty" feeling. And the always rolling back foreskin is also not what I really want. I'm glad I found this website as it has given me the information I need to get the circumcision I want.

Ulrich (Germany)

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My foreskin was adherent to my glans penis until I was about 11. I was not aware that foreskins were supposed to be retractable until I saw my first porno. I had seen circumcised penises before that but I thought that the surgeon probably stripped the skin off the glans when performing the circumcision. After that I started to forcibly retract my own foreskin, tearing the adhesions to the glans. It took me quite a while to achieve full retractability. Every attempt I would strip about 1/8 inch more. There was usually a slight bleeding after each session, although it wasn't much. In order to prevent the skin from healing back onto the glans again, I had to keep it retracted all the time.

Once I had the whole glans uncovered I discovered that I loved the feeling of my glans totally naked. As with the other members' experiences, it was my foreskin would roll forward as well, and I hated when it happened.

I had to perform a little home surgery later on to keep it retracted all the time. Eventually I had myself completely circumcised, and I'm very happy with the result as is my partner.

Pete (USA)

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Circumcision in a word? Fulfilled.

Re sensitivity. Several points need making: firstly as others have pointed out, wetting the glans restores sensitivity. Compare it with the sensitivity of your finger tips after you've had a bath, but more so. It's not quite as sensitive as it was before circumcision, but this is actually better, particularly for oral sex.

Now the frenulum: I've still got mine and I wouldn't want to lose it. But somebody correct me if I'm wrong, I suspect that there are two kind of frenectomy (?!). The first is a simple cut across the web that is the frenulum: no tissue is removed, it just releases the tension on erection. Therefore no nerves are lost, in fact the healing process probably brings them to the surface, to the joy of the owner. But the second kind of frenectomy is where the surgeon excises the frenulum and leaves an extra tag on the shaft skin which fits where the frenulum was, giving a characteristic V scar on the underside of the penis. Loss of sensitivity is inevitable, though the majority of people done as infants of children simply won't be aware of what they are missing.

A few words about loss of sensitivity on account of all those nerve cells being lost when the foreskin is removed. Yes I suppose so, but I've never missed them, the general tightness when you're erect is a much nicer feeling. During sex you get proper friction with the vagina which is much better than rolling up and down in and out of your foreskin.

Another point is that during foreplay, sensitive nerves are stimulated by gentle touch. This is where the frenulum is very much at the centre of things. But during the sex act itself, sensations from these sensitive nerves are lost in the more general melee of vigorous activity. Some might say, "but cutting off the foreskin reduces the overall number of stimulation points, which must dull the overall amount of stimulation!"

Well, I've had it both ways and I can reassure people that missing the foreskin does not dull the sensation. What actually happens is this: the shaft skin is tighter and you feel you have penetrated much deeper. This is very rewarding.

I would not want my foreskin back.

Simon (UK)

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I probably lost a bit of sensitivity from the inner skin that was cut, but I don't miss it. The head got less sensitive, but improves when it is wet, so not much change there. But the best thing is the greatly improved sensations round the corona on the out-stroke. Previously the foreskin rolled forward and you didn't get any of that after being circ'd.

Also the general tightness when you're erect is stimulating. Fellatio great & longer lasting, and women prefer nice clean cock and are possibly turned on by the quasi-erect look of flaccid but naked glans. Masturbation better, more immediate and intense without floppy old foreskin. I still have movement in my shaft skin which I like, but nothing like enough to cover the head. Orgasms on your own or with a partner: no longer or shorter to achieve, it depends on all sorts of things not just the foreskin. Possibly more intense and satisfying, or is it just because I prefer being circumcised?

Entering a warm wet woman for the first in-stroke feels remarkably similar to peeling back your foreskin!Doggy-fashion (hetero) is particularly improved by being cut, previously that was all foreskin movement, now it's genuine contact. Can't speak for gay sex.

On balance, there are absolutely no disadvantages to getting circumcised that I can think of and sex is greatly improved.

Simon (UK)

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I am circumcised tight it was performed when I was 7 years of age. It happened when I want to the doctor for a physical exam. The female doctor noticed that I had a little bit of red on the tip of my foreskin and my frenulum was tight. She called another doctor in to look at it the doctor talked to my parents and they were told that a circumcision with removal of all foreskin and frenulum. They agreed to it and a date was set. I by the way was still knew nothing about what was happening.

A couple of days later I was taken back to the hospital. The doctor gave me a medication and said it would make me go to sleep. I didn't ask any questions. I just took it and feel asleep about 2 hours later when I awoke I was in a hospital bed. My penis felt kinda weird like it hurt around the edges. I still was unaware that I had just been circumcised. In fact the only time I figured it out was when the nurse came in and changed the bandages and I noticed that I had NO foreskin. For the first couple of weeks I was confused (I had no idea what had happened.) I didn't mind the skin being gone although it felt weird to have no foreskin to cover my penis in my underwear. It was very sensitive until I told my mother who changed me to a different kind of underwear. Then I started to like the feeling of having no moist foreskin covering my penis.

I didn't fully understand what a great thing my parents had done to me until I got into 9th grade I was on a date and my girl friend and I got to talking about sex and how a guys penis could be circumcised or uncircumcised. After about 10 minutes of discussion, she asked if I was circumcised. I told her I was circumcised when I was 7 and she said she wanted to see it. So, as I was no longer embarrassed about having a foreskin as I had been before I was circumcised, I showed her. She was amazed and said that only one of her four younger brothers was circumcised and that she liked mine a LOT. So from that point on I really started to like it and frequently told my dates how I had been circumcised when I was younger. It almost always resulted in the girl wanting to see it, and they closely examined the scar.

Now that I am a adult I think back about what it was liked to be uncircumcised it is like having a BAD DREAM. I love feeling my penis head rubbing against my underwear. And the women I have been with seem to like it more than they like uncircumcised men. They say cut cocks are much better for blowjobs and the bare glans provides more stimulation during intercourse. So, when I do have a child I will wait until he is 5-7 and ask him if he wants a circumcision because if he is circumcised at birth he will most likely not be tightly cut and I think that being tightly cut is very important.

Dustin (US)

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I would like to write and express the joy and liberation I too feel about being circumcised. It is a beautifying operation, cosmetic surgery at its best.

It's also more comfortable, sex is better and it is so much nicer for your partner. It beats me how any woman consents to sex with a man who still has his foreskin. So it follows that you would expect women to have their male offspring circumcised for the sake of the next generation of females, but then you hit a problem. These males will never have the chance of experiencing the joy of getting circumcised, though hopefully they will be content with their circumcised status once their mothers tell them about what was done to them and why.

I, for one, wish it had been done to me as a baby - even though not being done allowed me to choose for myself. Had I been circumcised as a baby, I would have been a member of a slightly more exclusive club as a kid. Still, better late than never.

I completely support the locker room argument: were I in the US I would have my son done straight away. But today, in England, I don't think I would, because he might be self-conscious being different. But I would encourage him to have it done, if he wanted it. In fact, we didn't have our son, born in 1982, done for that reason. But aged five he had to have it done anyway for phimosis and is not self conscious as far as I know, though it's not something we talk about.

Anonymous (UK)

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I find that, regardless of the method used, the penis circumcised early in life - the earlier the better - grows very naturally. The only difference I found in the follow-up of my sons' operations was the fact that, with the Plastibell, the cut edge of the foreskin tends to stick a little more to the tip (we're advised to make sure it doesn't) for a while, while in the Gomco cut it takes a little longer for the tip to be completely uncapped. Nothing to worry about, both as children had a beautiful, well-defined tip and good erections from the ages of three and up, and they felt quite confident in their bodies, which is pleasant to see.

Although my own cut produced quite good results, I find that there is nothing to match the harmonious scar of a newborn circ. When you're cut as an adult, there's too much foreskin here, too much frenulum there, and you end up with something that is never quite as well-balanced, however beautiful it is. Parents who elect not to circumcise should feel guilty about not doing it when they think of all the frustrating years they impose on boys who'll have to deal with a dirty sleeve of skin on their cocks, the pain of being stretched, the unpleasantness of washing or the unpleasantness of having a smelly tip. A brief flash of pain soon after birth is certainly a better way to deal with it. Women, who know that foreskins are definitely a contributing factor for cancer, should insist very strongly about circumcision for their mates and their sons.

Anonymous (Canada)

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There is an infinite difference between the amorphous, untidy, crude, unfinished state of having a skin over the end of your willy, and the well defined, tight, comfortable, revealed, neat, clean, tidy, attractive, fulfilled state of being circumcised.

I am proud and happy for the world to see my glans and my scar, my only regret is that it wasn't done for me as a baby - even if I did enjoy getting it done.

Truly circumcision is a man-made improvement on what we are born with. - And would the anti's answer this, If we didn't make improvements and repairs to ourselves, how much shorter would be our life span? So why is prophylactic circumcision any different? It's just much harder to do the epidemiological studies that would justify circumcision, not only in regard to men's health, but in regard to women's health as well.

Anonymous (Australia)

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I first "learned" masturbation during a normal wash - for which I had to roll the foreskin back, of course. One day that rubbing of the bare glans suddenly started to feel strangely good and I got an erection. After a moment of rubbing the natural thing happened. That is how I had my first orgasm. For a long time, I thought soap was essential for masturbation. Foreskin was something clumsy that had to be kept out of the way.

The "foreskin masturbation technique" was something I learned later - but even then, if I really wanted to explode, I took liquid soap - or some better lubricant - grabbed my foreskin with one hand, held it back tightly and then used the other hand for jerking off. There is nothing like direct and continues stimulation of glans. I think it is obvious that circumcision greatly improves the functionality of the penis. The only possible use for a foreskin I can think of, is that it makes masturbation easier (no need for lubricants etc.) But it feels so much better without one!

Antti (Finland)

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I am really glad that I've joined the circlist because finally I realized that there are so many people out there that long to be circumcised! Many of them are just like me, they keep their skin rolled back, waiting to summon up their courage to get circumcised one day! I don't feel so awkward about my feeling anymore, knowing that I am not alone! I hope to be circumcised very soon

Tom (Canada)

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By the time I was 5, I already knew that all of the peers I'd seen had been circumcised (little boys pissed together everywhere around our neighborhood), and I HADN'T. I'd asked my mother early-on why my penis was different from the other boys', and she'd told me that it was because they'd had an operation called circumcision, and that I hadn't been circumcised because my father (a doctor) was opposed to any surgery not required to save a life. She went on to say that boys are usually circumcised as babies because "it doesn't hurt them then." So I "knew the score" but wasn't happy with it. I wanted my penis to be like everyone else's, yet I feared the possible pain of the surgery - not to mention the EMBARRASSMENT of having a lot of grown-ups looking at my penis. Also, as you may recall, when I first started bathing alone, my mother always solemnly admonished me to "retract your foreskin and clean your penis or we might have to have you circumcised." This reinforced my "difference" from all the other boys. It also sounded both scary and exciting. Guess that's why I'm always interested in hearing how other uncut boys felt about being circumcised later in life.

Paul (USA)

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I was circumcised at at age 32. Actually I performed a self circumcision using a Gomco clamp. I was in the military at that time and had access to instruments and materials needed for this. I had seen several circumcisions done while in the service and was generally disappointed with the cosmetic (and functional??) results. I did not want to gamble with my most important body part so when I made the decision for circumcision I felt it was best left in my own hands.

The result was more than satisfactory. I enjoy seeing my exposed glans. There is a freedom that is associated with that and esthetically there is no comparison to which is preferred. I say that even though in my uncircumcised state most doctors would have said a circumcision was not indicated on medical grounds. Having sexual experience with and without a foreskin provides an opportunity to share those experiences and nuances with others who may be considering a circumcision themselves. I would personally recommend circumcision to any man, boy or mother-to-be.

Paul (USA)

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Those of us who have had it done as adults can confirm that getting circumcised is the most liberating, fulfilling, satisfying thing you will ever do. The tightness is so good, and you get a much nicer sensation on the out-stroke because the corona is stimulated by friction instead of just being covered back over by a slack foreskin. And seeing your own permanently exposed glans with the scar behind it is a thrill every time you pee. And it is a complete myth that it hurts. It aches a bit to begin with, you'll definitely be aware of it (and hopefully enjoying it already). But there is none of the excruciating pain that myth and folklore would have you believe.

Simon (UK)

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I had a good friend who was circumcised as an adult age 28. He had a very tight foreskin and could not retract it comfortably when erect. He had himself circumcised at a local hospital. He felt little pain and is very glad he had the circ done. He says he feels no loss of sensation and enjoys the way he looks, as do his sex partners.

Robert (Germany)

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I've been turned down for sex with girls as a teen and women as I grew older (because I am uncircumcised.) This was particularly true in High School, because intercourse was not always an option. However, oral sex was, but it was rare to find a girl who would suck an uncircumcised cock, especially with a foreskin that completely covers even when hard and gets smelly only an hour after the shower.

There were only 6 uncut guys out of 400 or so males in my high school class. Only one of the uncuts was a "stud/jock", named Opey. He had the same girlfriend all through high school, and when asked by us guys why he continued to date her (as she was widely known to be a bitch) he said, she puts out. One of the cut guys said something like, "so she likes sucking your skin" and he said no, she loved to be eaten and he was quite the 'muff diver'. Common talk around school was that she would not suck and that he always performed cunnilingus on her. None of the other uncuts got much sex from girls and usually ended up jacking our skins together (or with cut guys who also didn't want to suck our skins.) I'm fairly certain it lead to my own bi-sexual tendencies today.... there were (and are gay guys) that find foreskin kinky and a turn on.

The only other experience with regard to girls in high school and foreskin/circumcision occurred just after I graduated from college. I volunteered to work with a couple of girls teams at my local high school. One of the girls (younger and very pretty) was dating a senior boy (another all American looking kid). The girls began to call her "smegma lips" jokingly and this went on for some time. I finally found out that the reason for this was her boyfriend was uncircumcised, and this was widely known by the girls who didn't like to date him because of this. When she was asked about it, she indicated that it did look 'funny' compared to other pictures she'd seen, but she didn't know why. The girls had told her the reason and she said she would talk to him about the situation. I don't know what happened after that... but they continued to call her smegma lips when they wanted to tease her and she continued to date him for about 3 more months.

One more thing... I can tell you that from college until I was about 30, I would occasionally be turned down for sex from gay guys who hated skin as well. Since that time, skin seems to be more popular with the cut crowd (particularly in the leather world.) Although, I sometimes still hear cut guys talking and saying "he's a turtle neck... I prefer crew necks, if you know what I mean" (overheard at a recent party.)

David (USA)

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My good friend was born in South East USA and delivered by a Mid Wife. He was not circed as a baby. His family moved to Suburban Southern Calif. when the was in his early teens. The High School he attended required gym classes where he was teased about his foreskin. He felt different and embarrassed. He joined the US Navy after graduation and again was in a definite minority. He asked the Navy Medic for a circ and got one. He now feels much better about himself.

Bart (USA)

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I am 54 year old father of three children (two boys) and my interest in this is more by way of opening the Circ' issue up, bringing it out into the open, and counteracting the unbelievable crap coming from the no-circ camp, (which I only became aware of when I connected up to the internet a couple of years ago).

When I was young (and uncut) - and very hung up about it, there was no information or help I could turn to. The great thing about the internet, and your website, and others like it, is that in complete privacy, all the information is there.

My old boarding school in Australia was very strong on tradition. In this boarding environment there was a very very strong culture of circumcision, which I think is good. It would be interesting to have some of these older public schools surveyed to find out the percentage of circumcised v. uncircumcised boys today, and what these school are doing by way of education to assist the presumed minority of hapless uncut kids - (Nothing in my day).

The least I hope they are doing is suggesting to the parents that circumcision is recommended before boarding, if for no other reason than to avoid psychological hang-ups, and to offer uncut children the opportunity to be circumcised. I understand at least two British public schools expect incoming boys to be circumcised.

In the 1950's - 1960's, the shape and size of each boys penis was a major factor in peer grouping - and I would be suprised if things were much different today. This has ongoing consequences once a child leaves school - the effect on an adolescents self esteem - relationships with girls, and so on.

Through no fault of their own, uncut kids were always at the bottom of the heap. Nobody should have to go through life with the encumbrance of a foreskin. I went through sheer hell.

Into this strong circumcision culture went I, at seven years of age as a boarder - one of perhaps less than 10 uncut boys out of aprox 800 cut. Before going to boarding school I remember having problems at around 6 years of age, and my mother used to bath me, adding some sort of solution to the bath, and trying to pull my foreskin back to try and remove the smegma. (Actually, this became an early introduction to masturbation, as it was very pleasurable - and I found out later I could get the same effect by doing it myself!).

As far as my parents were concerned, my mother wanted me circumcised at birth - but my father didn't agree. I pleaded with my father after my first year of boarding school to be "cut" - but he would not allow it (he also was uncut).

At boarding school we had to shower in open showers at least twice a day, and every boys penis in the most intricate detail was known to every other boy. Some boys had great difficulty controlling erections and were always trying to hide their semi-erect penis'. Whilst every other boy in my dormitory was circumcised - many quite radically circ'd - I had this terrible elephants trunk foreskin that had horrible smelly secretions, and was always itchy. I became very obsessed about it, and greatly admired others who had these tight upstanding dicks. Many of the others openly despised me because I had this revolting foreskin, and quite often someone would comment........ "why dont you have it cut off and become one of us?" If only I could.

After I left school and had independent means of income, I decided to be circumcised at 18 years of age. I used to go hunting a lot, and lived in the bush for a week at a time. As usual my penis became foul smelling and very sore. So, given my intense dislike of my foreskin anyway, I saved up the money, went and summoned the courage to go and see a local GP - I also felt I would never have the courage to have it off with a woman with such a disgusting smelly dick. He agreed and a few weeks later it was all done in hosptal, with an overnight stay. The stitches hurt a bit -but so what - I was so elated at long last to be circumcised, the pain was almost a pleasure.

Having experienced life with and without a foreskin, believe me, it is just so much better if you're cut. For the male the friction is fantastic , and my wife tells me the feeling of the hard cock head moving in and out inside her is a major turn on - also just rubbing her gently on the clitoris with the end of my cock gets her going in no time - (try doing that with a loose foreskin flapping around).

Women almost universally favour a circumcised penis because they can feel the penis better inside them, and they much prefer the way it looks. By comparison, a man with a foreskin having sex is akin to having a shower with a raincoat on (for both partners).

I have had my own two sons circumcised. There was simply no way they were going through whay I had been through. y wife worked at a local surgery, so it was organised for the operation to be carried out each time before they left hospital.She is strongly in favour of the operation.

At 15 and 16 years of age my sons are both strong happy handsome kids - heavily into sport (surfing, golf etc), with fair hair and lovely uncomplicated personalities - each with a well developing cut penis, each with a long pulled back inner skin between the scar and their glans. I am very proud of their circumcisions - I suspect they are too. They still walk around the house naked - our circumcision a silent bond between us.

The boys attend a day school, and so rarely if ever get their gear off in a locker room situation. However, I do know from ealier years when I had to help shower them, (and their friends), that most of their generation in this locality have foreskins - thanks no doubt to the nocirc camp and their influence on local GP's. As one who knows, several of these kids, now well into their adolescence are showing all the usual signs of problems - when going surfing they turn away when getting into a wetsuit (embarrassment??), some continually rub and scratch etc. (inflamation??) etc etc.

It seems logical to me that the best method of circumcision is to clamp off the end of the penis, drawing the excess skin from along the outside of the penis, thus leaving a large length of sensitive inner skin intact. This inside skin should then pull tightly back along the outside of the shaft.

I have never never regretted being circumcised. I hope my own story might give others some encouragement to have it cut off. Just make sure as much of the inner skin as possible is not removed, if you decide to go ahead and get the cut!

Ian (Australia)

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My Name is David and I'm very interested in the subject of Circumcision. I was intact (uncircumcised) for over 26 years then I finally had enough courage to see a urologist about getting circ'd. I had always wanted to get circ'd since about the age of 11. My cousins were cut and I always envied them and also in Jr high School and in High school it seemed as if 100% of the males were circumcised and I was not. This really made me feel less than the rest of the guys and I guess this is the reason why at age 26, I choose to get circumcised. I am now 30 years old and I am always looking to find out more information and to talk to other guys who have had the same experience as myself. I'm very happy to be circumcised and only wish it had been done sooner.

David (USA)

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Well I had my circumcision three weeks ago today. I am 45, so yes I have waited a long time, but the wait has been worth it. Well at this point in time anyway. Actually I had basically given up on ever having the op. when I happened by chance to find this guy’s sight who is pro-circ. At the end of his sight was an Email address and you guessed it I sent him an email telling him of my situation. He is a doctor. He replied with an email assurring me that I wasnt strange, and so I approached a friend who is a cosmetic surgeon and the rest is history.

I suppose I had given up on the idea because of my age and the fact that I thought Doctors might think I was weird asking for it, well for cosmetic reasons (and at my age). I had other reasons but could have lived with it. The constant hygiene problem in summer was a drag. Oral sex was something I just didnt want to ask for, fearing rejection. And basically I hated my apperance. Lets face it they look bloody awful in fact ugly.

And I dont care what anybody says mine was ugly. I am very self concious especially as I swim with 5 other guys for fitness reasons (sort of a club training thing but for fitness only). I always feel embarrased in the showers because of the length of my foreskin (10mm or so past the glans). Maybe it was a hangover from boarding school days but I got hell at boarding school. I was in the minority being uncirced in the 60’s and 70’s. Well I will have to return to swimming next week. My absence ahs been noticed. After all these years I will have to remember to speak of my foreskin in the past tense as my penis now looks fantastic. And let go of all that lack of self esteem.

The scar is healing really well. I am rubbing Vitamin E into the suture line every morning after showering and it looks great. The surgeon has even said if I am not totally happy I can wait 6 months and he will correct it if I am not totally satisfied. As for the procedure I can fill you in on it all and compare notes if you are interested later.

You may think I am weird but in a funny sort of way I feel initiated into manhood or... I just dont look upon myself with this ugly ... My penis looks like a man's not a boy's little dinky. Dont think I am pathetic, I just feel... fan bloody tastic. Iam yet to try it out. Maybe my self esteem will be shot down in flames because sex wont be as good. There is always a down side to everything. And I went and had this done knowing full well there maybe a down side. So until we communicate again, and if you are interested to compare any more notes, or anything else for that matter, dont hesitate to email. Great to communicate .

Denny (USA)

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Matriarchal Induction

Graham  has posted  his interest in being circumcised by a woman. It seems that while I was away on vacation there was an exchange about "why a woman?" This is an interesting point. Let me share some thoughts.

In my research I have encountered a quite common fantasy theme of having adult females deciding on and/or imposing circumcision on males. The exact form of these cravings is quite variable. But I believe it ordinarily starts with an early enviroment in which the boy concludes that his mother is in charge of his penis. In these cases you are usually dealing with a mother whose own psyche has an unusual interest in her son's male equipment.

Some psychologists see this dynamics as being involved in the development of exhibitionism in males. And that sure was true in my case. But the most dramatic form of female imposed circumcision comes in what I have come to term "Matriarchal Induction." In my research I have encountered this repeatedly. At first it was hard to believe but I have encountered it so often that I now understand it to be a recurring event. I will attach my summary of it hereto.

So, there really is nothing mysterious about Graham's craving.

George

MATRIARCHAL INDUCTION

This is a process through which a boy is subjected to an on-going process aimed at bringing him into harmony with the matriarchal tradition of the maternal side of the family. The exact form may vary somewhat in details but the overall thrust is amazingly common. It most commonly is reported by the first-born boy of the generation. But it can involve any boy who is not circumcised at birth. It is best described using the example of a first-born son not circumcised at birth, as outlined below. Ordinarily the key player is an aunt, as described below. As so often happens in matriarchal situations, the fathers in these cases tends to be a passive individuals in the distant background who leave all decisions regarding the son to the wife.

Matriarchal Induction starts with an uncircumcised boy becoming aware that his aunt is lobbying his mother to have him circumcised. This process tends to go on for several years without resolution, during which time the boy develops an inner certainty that the fate of his male parts is subject to the whim of family females.

Eventually, a circumcision is scheduled but usually only when the boy is at least 6-years old and fully aware of the circumstances. It usually occurs in the boy's own room at home, perhaps establishing the thought that female control extends even there. An audience of family females is always present to witness his modification. So that the boy can witness this process of female- imposed modification he is given a local anesthetic.

I know one exception where the circumcision took place at about age five. Here no anesthetic was used, perhaps to insure that the boy would have good recall of the event despite less inherent awareness. As an adult he recalls the incident but has blotted out the pain. But he was often told by his mother over the years of his "howling like a wounded animal" during the process.

Following the circumcision there follows several years of the aunt exercising direct periodic control over the boy's penis. This involves manual handling of the penis by the aunt, to include extensive manipulation of an erection. This can be overtly sexual stimulation or can be hidden under the guise of "clinical" examination. This may go on as late as to age 17.

What this whole induction process achieves is to establish in the boy's mind the conviction that his penis really belongs to females. That is established in a very dramatic way. But then he is caused to associate pleasurable sensations with surrendering his penis to female control. He is also conditioned to accept female control of his sexual feelings. Judging from the inputs from sources who have experienced this, the process is effective in creating males devoted to playing very subordinate roles with females.

One variation can be for the aunt to turn over the post-circumcision conditioning phase to a female cousin just slightly older than the boy. This generally involves putting him through humiliating performances for the amusement of groups of girls, or even boys his age.

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Circ'd By Girlfriend in US

My girlfriend told me that she preferred the appearance of a circumcised penis, and asked me if I would consider it. At first I gave her only evasive answers, but after thinking it over for a few weeks I decided to go ahead and tell her that I would indeed consider it. To my surprise, she was absolutely delighted, and became very excited (sexually). We made love right then, and as we were doing that she asked me if she could make the arrangements.

When I told her that it was all right with me if she did ,she launched into an elaborate fantasy about how she always wanted to (have her man circumcised ,ritually, as a symbol of the relationship between us). We were making love, and the idea was extremely stimulating to me as well as her, so I agreed. I told her that my foreskin is her's to do with as she will.

Several weeks elapsed, and then one day she told me that the arrangements have been made and that I should apply for a weeks vacation from my job. She refused to give more detail.

Well I did as she asked, applied for the time off, got it, and told her about it.

I had to wait two weeks before I could get coverage to take that time, and on the evening of the last day before my vacation began she met me at the front door of my house.

She told me that " tonight was the night for my circumcision" and that I was to go in immediately and shower.

When I finished with the shower, she brought me my bathrobe ,blindfolded me and lead me to the living room where she instructed me to lie on top of the coffee-table with my head on the seat of a kitchen chair pulled up to one end.

She had no sooner finished tying my hands and feet to the table legs when the doorbell rang sending shivers and goose flesh all over me.

Three female voices greeted her( none of which I recognized), and they really seemed almost to ignore me . They left the living room, and over a period of about an hour I could hear sounds of them talking from the dining room and kitchen. I really couldn't understand anything.

Eventually they returned, and now I was the center of attention. My girl friend kissed me and told me not to speak or ask any questions, that I was simply to lie still and experience what is going to be a experiential circumcision of dynamic proportions. I was terrified, with heart pounding, as she sat at the end of the table holding my head in her hands.

One of the women was the operator and gave directions to the others without speaking directly to me. I was shaved by one of them, and then "the operator" told my girlfriend that it would be a month before any form of sex could resume, and would she like the opportunity to be alone with me for a short while before they begin.

My girl thought she would, and the others returned to the kitchen. It took only a few minutes for her to bring me to orgasm orally, and when she finished I was really getting scared because I was no longer sexually excited, and my foreskin felt like it was as cold as ice from thinking about what was happening.

The others returned, washed me again, and as soon as that was finished the operator attached a forcep to my foreskin. Completely down the whole length of it all the way to where it attached. I never felt such sensation in my life, and my girlfriend continued to hold my head, with her hand over my mouth although I tried disparately to make no sound.

The entire operation took about twenty five minutes, but seemed like hours. It was done without special clamps, only forceps and scalpel, and was neatly sutured when finished.

Thoughts and memories of this experience have since enriched our sexlife beyond description, and although I wouldn't want to go through that again, I am glad that I did and would recommend such an experience for anyone.

George (USA)

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Circumcised by Mom at age 10

I was circumcised when I was a 10 year-old boy for "medical" reasons. The reasons were never made clear to me, as I never had any infections or problems with my foreskin. The only problem I had was that the skin did not retract.

I have always suspected that my mother wanted me circumcised from the time of my birth, but was prevented from doing so by my European and therefore uncircumcised father. It may not be a coincidence that I was circumcised only half a year after my parents divorced and she started dating a Canadian, circumcised man.

The first time I ever saw my glans was when the bandage was unwrapped (by my mother) a few days following the circumcision. Never having been exposed to the light of day, the glans was extremely tender and sensitive, almost to the point of pain, each time it came into with anything including underwear, a towel, bed sheets, etc. When I asked my mother why it hurt so much, she replied that it’s supposed to hurt but it will go away after a while. During the several weeks in took for my circumcision wound to heal, my mother would examine my penis almost daily. She said everything was doing well and that I should be proud of my "beautiful circumcised penis". This was only somewhat reassuring, as the irritation from the constant rubbing of my now denuded glans was driving me bonkers. Secretly, for several months I was wrapping my cut penis with plastic Saran wrap to keep me from going insane, especially at night when trying to sleep. I also tried to pull the remaining shaft skin over the head to masturbate (like I used to to before being sliced) but this was no longer possible, even when soft. Over the course of my teen years I developed my own j/o technique, as all circumcised boys and men must do. I learned that by rubbing Vaseline over the entire length of my cock, it would be slippery enough to glide a hand up and down the shaft, occasionally touching the glans lightly just before orgasm to bring me over the edge.

My circumcision experience may have made me resentful over what had been done to me without my consent. The fact is that I have not let the loss of my foreskin negatively impact my sex life or outlook on sex. As all well adjusted circumcised males must do, I have learned to enjoy all aspects of circumcised sex. When I discovered that most women prefer circumcised penises (in my 20s) my interest in the subject was once again rekindled. Today (age 33), I am very interested in reading about any aspect of circumcision. During masturbation, I fantasize about what it would be like to have a foreskin and to masturbate with one. For me, the word "CIRCUMCISION" evokes strong emotions (mostly positive) and I am happy to report that "I AM PROUD TO BE CIRCUMCISED".

Any comments or questions are most welcome.

PeterO

Next message…

To continue with my life story, I was nearly at wit’s end suffering from the effects of my circumcision at the age of 10. I tried to imagine what it must feel like for a baby to be circumcised without anesthetic and then having the freshly exposed glans coming in contact with wet diapers, feces and whatever else. For me, the complete exposure of the glans felt like when a fingernail is ripped off a finger. It didn’t look much better than it felt, as the glans was blood red from evidently having been stripped of its protective covering.

As for reaction from school friends, I was lucky because I was spared the embarrasment of exposing the "new" me. The circumcision took place in the summer and my family moved to a new house across town in September. None of my old friends saw me with my circumcision, and the kids in the new school just assumed that I had been circumcised at birth as they were. For this I was most thankful and the idea of "fitting in" with the other boys was my only consolation for my physical agony. I soon came to accept the fact that the price of being male was to experience the pain of circumcision. Every boy I knew was circumcised so I just figured that they suffered too, as babies, but they didn’t remember the pain as I did.

The extreme sensitivity and discomfort gradually lessened as the years went by. I suppose to some extent I just got accustomed to having my glans continuously exposed, but also the physical sensitivity was reduced from the constant rubbing.

Years later, at the age of 33, I am happy with my circumcision. I was well circumcised, with all foreskin and frenulum removed. When erect, my scar is about 0.5" from the corona, and when soft the scar rests just behind the corona. Although I am not gay, I do enjoy observing other men’s cocks, and I especially like it when I see that they have a tight cut with a clearly visible scar line. I guess it’s reassuring to know that as circumcisees, we have all suffered the same or similar pain, the pain of the amputation of our foreskins. Would I have my sons circumcised? Yes, but I would make sure that it was done as soon as possible after birth so they wouln’t remember the pain.

I guess that’s all I have to say about this for now. If anyone has more questions, I would be happy to respond. More later!

P.S. About my email: I chose "obrez@hotmail" because I heard my father refer to my circumcision as an "obrez", which is the Czech translation. Besides, no one else at hotmail had taken that name yet.

Next message…

I don’t recall how long it took for the swelling to go down, but I’m sure it must have been at least a couple of weeks. The first few days I experienced excrutiating pain and was bed-ridden for nearly the entire first week following my circumcision. I certainly did not think that what I just had was "minor surgery". As I wrote earlier, the pain continued for several months afterwards, mainly because the glans felt like an open wound, and friction against clothing made walking difficult and running or playing sports all but impossible.

During this time, my entire existence centred around my penis. I was painfully aware of my penis, and more specifically my circumcision, during every waking moment. I tried putting on a brave face in front of my mother because I figured that since she didn’t have a penis she wouldn’t understand what I was going through. I knew that she was very pleased to finally have a son who was circumcised and she was sure to mention my circumised status to all her (mostly female) friends (much to my embarassment). The ladies with whom she discussed my circumcision were always pleased to learn that I had been circumcised, but were usually puzzled why I hadn’t been done at birth, as their sons had been. All of this was quite a shock to me, as I never before realized that women talk so candidly about boy’s penises. It was clear to me that all of these women not only approved of circumcision but regarded it as the normal thing to do to a newborn’s penis. When they found out that I had been trimmed at 10, they would usually say to my mother something like, "you must be so pleased to have him trimmed", to which my mother replied that it was long overdue and that she regrets not having me circumcised at birth.

When I overheard some of these conversations, I was sad and hurt because I thought "how could they know what it feels like to be circumcised?" Nevertheless, when my mother or her friends would ask how I was feeling, I would just say "fine". This was a lie, because only I and those who acually go through the ordeal of circumcision know the true meaning of pain and humilation.

I tried my best to forget about the whole circumcision thing during my teens. Gradually the discomfort subsided and I learned to live without my foreskin. In my 20s, when I discovered that women prefer circumcised penises from a sexual perspecive, I grew to appreciate what my mother had done for me. Now, I couldn’t imagine what it’s like to still have foreskin, but I wouldn’t want it back anyway. As anyone circumcised after infancy can tell you, once everthing is healed and the glans becomes less sensitive, being circumcised is actually quite satisfying.

PeterO

Next message...

I have received a couple of emails (privately) asking me why it was humiliating to be circumcised at the age of 10. I have already described the physical pain that I had suffered, but there is an emotional side as well.  Having so much attention focused on my penis at this tender age was difficult. Prior to the surgery, my mother and I made a special trip to see the doctor, who examined my penis. Then, my mother and he had a short discussion, again concerning my penis. This in itself was an embarrassing and awkward situation for a kid who was shy to begin with.  Arriving at the hospital on the day of the surgery was a similar experience,  only this time much worse as many other people were now involved: the  check-in clerk, nurses, and orderlies all seemed to know that I was there to  be circumcised. Again, very humiliating indeed.

Following the surgery, my mother would talk about my circumcision to almost all her friends. Again, they were talking about MY penis, MY body, as if I had no say in the matter. Sometimes, there would be jokes made and roaring laughter, again at my expense. I overheard comments like "Did they take it all off?", and "He should be thankful they didn't cut his whole weenie off  while they were at it!" Meanwhile, I was crying from the excruciating physical pain caused by the scarring of my glans and of course from the incision itself.  One lady friend of my mother's seemed to take a particular interest in my circumcision. Each time she would visit, she made it a point to ask me if I was okay and whether I was glad to finally be circumcised. I confessed to her that it was very painful, especially when I had a boner, and I was no longer able to pleasure myself. She was horrified and said I must never say these things again. She said I was circumcised for my own good and that I should thank my mother for circumcising me. She also said that all boys are circumcised so I have nothing to complain about. She said my mother had paid a lot of money for my circumcision, and that it was not easy for her to see her little boy's penis all bloodied and bandaged. "A little pain for long term gain" was her basic message. At that age, all I could think about was  "how could they do this to us?" "why aren't we just born circumcised so they  couldn't do this horrible thing?" Anyway, I have never shared the pain of my circumcision with anyone (especially not my mother) until now.

Like all difficult experiences, both physical and emotional, I got over it in time. Adversity builds character, and circumcision certainly helped to build mine. Scraped knees or sprained ankles were no longer a big deal for me because I had gone through an ordeal far more painful than any of these injuries. Emotionally, I am okay knowing that (most) women prefer circumcised partners, and that this is probably a big factor in routine infant circumcisions. Unlike the few men out there who seek to restore their foreskins, I accept the fact that I am circumcised and will remain circumcised for the remainder of my life. What's more, I can rejoice in knowing that I have a penis that is an object of desire to the fairer sex.

Regards, PeterO  

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UK Girlfriend Insisted on my Circumcision

Well, it looks like I am going to be circumcised next Tuesday.

I think my girlfriend set me up. When I stopped by her office to pick her last evening, the lady doctor was waiting to talk to me. She took me into her office and told me she and my girlfriend have been talking about me. She asked me if I knew how much my girlfriend wanted me to be circumcised, then went on to tell me what she thought and how she highly recommends it for young men.  She made a lot of sense and just about had me convinced to go ahead with it.

She asked me I would mind if she brought my girlfriend in to talk about it, I said it would be okay. We all had a long talk about it and I heard things from my girlfriend that showed me she really wanted me to be circumcised. By the end of our conversation I was feeling much more at ease and told them I would go get it done.

The doctor said that she could phone and make an appointment for me if I wished. I told her to go ahead. she picked up the phone and in a few minutes I was booked in for next Tuesday afternoon. So, I guess I will be joining the rank of circumcised men soon.

My girlfriend plans to come with me and hopes to hold my hand during the surgery.

Wish me luck.

Next message...

Now that it looks like I have committed to my circumcision, I am getting a bit excited about the whole process. My girlfriend is delighted that I have decided to grant her wish and have the surgery. She has plans for me and told me how she wants to help make the whole experience one we will never forget.

She wants to take photos before I get cut, after she shaves me that is. And plans to take more photos as I heal and more when I am completely healed. She wants to be with me when I see the doctor, I know she wants to make sure I ask for a high and tight cut. She plans to ask the doctor to allow her to be there when he circumcises me.

We will be driving down to London Tuesday afternoon and back home that night. I hope I wont be in too much pain. She said she will take good care of me, somehow, I know she will.

Bye for now, John

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Some Women Find Cirumcision Erotic

Many women have posted notes to the CIRCLIST email box indicating their strong preference for circumcision in males.  However, recently we have received several  long postings involving women in circumcision, where they find circumcision erotic.

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Routine Infant Circumcision: Men's Feelings

When young, my friends and I could not determine why some boys had a foreskin and others were missing, and it was one of the first things that boys checked, after size, when observing the penis of other boys. Probably both camps worried about it because of what our future girlfriends desired.

I was never jealous of foreskins but wondered what one would feel like. I was in high school before I discovered that my skin had been removed by a doctor. I recognized that I had a scar on my penis but never thought about it. Since then, I have observed penises with better circ jobs and those with worse in the eyes of the beholder. Only recently have I become aware that circumcision has become a controversial topic. Mine has never been a problem and my penis has functioned very well. I was surprised to hear some men complaining about lack of sensitivity. My wife hopes that the controversy ends because she definitely prefers for men to be circumcised.

Al (USA)

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I was circumcised at birth and have never regretted it for one moment. The circumcision was however not very well carried out. Not enough skin was removed and while the head was clearly exposed there was quite a lot of loose skin around. When erect the skin on the shaft was fairly loose and in fact there was a small flap on skin on one side.

At fourteen my mother took me to the then family doctor to sort out the problem. He is attitude was however to leave it to nature. So nothing was done. It was not a big problem because at fourteen no one was seeing my penis erect anyway.

When I became sexually active things changed. After the fifth girl friend had commented on the flap of skin, I had had enough. I went straight to the doctor and I was virtually recircumcised because of the excess skin. Ten days later I was back in action, so to speak.

I discovered that a marked change had occurred. Firstly the skin on the shaft was now tight when erect. I also found the sensation on penetration breathtaking. But perhaps best of all I found my orgasm was now much more intense. Incredibly so. I was amazed at the positive effect tight skin on the shaft had.

With this background, you can imagine how amazed I was when I read an anti-circumcision article which told me that my penis had been mutilated and had lost a lot of its sensitivity. What a lot of rubbish. I am absolutely happy with the 'look' of my penis and in fact if was a fraction more sensitive it would be painfull.

So I am trying to work out where these anti-circumcision people are coming from. Who are they and what is their agenda?

Having been to school in a 60:40 circumcised environment I am well aware that uncircumcised boys throughout school age have various infection problems. A stint in the army confirmed this. In fact more so than ever. Simply there were a large number of infections, some resulting in circumcision, from causes the anti circumcision lobby say dont exist. Again I ask, who are these guys?

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The cry goes out that in routine newborn circumcisions there is a high risk and a lot of pain and suffering. Well I dont believe newborn circumcision should be routine. I believe parents should carefully screen the competence and experience of the surgeon, as they would before themselves undergoing any operation. The current risk of death directly attributable to newborn circumcisions of one in 16.6 million in the US and as such is hardly any risk at all and can be further improved by carefully selecting the surgeon. In addition the use of an analgesic would render the pain suffered to the same level of routine infant vaccinations. Do they really believe parents parents wish to harm their children?

I notice with some interest that all research that produces findings in favour of the anti circumcision view is termed 'rigorously controlled', while that which finds in favour of circumcision to 'have been largely invalidated'. How do they arrive at these conclusions?

Well on the positive side, I accept that the anti circumcision lobby has forced me to review my position and become informed on the issue. So in conclusion then; I am happy to be circumcised and any future male child of mine will be circumcised for both aesthetic and preventative health reasons.

It will be an informed choice that I will be making in the best interests of that child.

Several recent reports make one hope that a semblance of rationality is returning to the circumcision debate - the articles in the "Independent" and the "Guardian", together with the renewed medical calls for routine prophylactic neonatal circumcision in the US and Europe. It is long overdue: happily circumcised men (like me!) are sick of ill-founded propaganda which they know from personal experience to be untrue, yet feel powerless to combat because of what seems like a conspiracy on the net. Now that the cost-benefit-analysis based culture of the 80s is giving way to a more caring society, I hope we will soon be in a situation where caring parents will feel free to provide the protection of circumcision to their sons.

Dave (USA)

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My penis is circumcised loosely. When it is soft, there is a ring of skin that touches the coronal ridge. Sometimes when flaccid, the skin will separate slightly from the coronal ridge. When my penis grows erect, the skin remains loose along the shaft. There is a distinct difference in color at the circumcision scar approximately 1" below the head of my penis. I believe that my circumcision removed more inner foreskin than outer foreskin. I've been left with enough skin so that I'm able to pull it about 1/2 way up the head when hard. I'm able to completely cover the glans when soft (although it rolls back immediately).

I'm still undecided on how I ultimately feel on the practice of routine infant circumcision. I am, however, happy that I was circumcised at birth. Nearly every boy where I live has been circumcised. In the showers, I have only seen one boy from our area who was uncircumcised and one other who was an exchange student. Therefore, to be similar to my peers, I am glad that my parents chose to have me circumcised. I'm 19 now and was born in the USA.

Also, I think that the girls here prefer circumcision. I was talking with a group of girls one night. We got onto the subject of circumcision. Of the four girls, only one was familiar with the terminology of cut and uncut. She said that she has heard uncut penises are hard to keep clean and smell. They were generally consenting in that circumcision was the only option.

However, I have read a lot of anti-circ material on the Internet. I found this site and found it to be an excellent resource to counter the strong attacks made by those opposed to circumcision. Because I was circumcised at birth, I do not know what it would feel like to be uncircumcised.

Seth (USA)

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I was circumcised at birth, as I'm sure all of my friends were as well. I really never knew any different until I heard the word circumcision while in my religious classes. I was interested in what it was exactly, and since it talked about boys, I definitely wanted to look it up. I was quite shocked to read the definition. It talked about the cutting of the foreskin of the male penis. I read a number of medical books to find out more...including what an uncircumcised penis looked like. This was all before leaving elementary school.

In middle school, I was amazed at how many of my friends were ignorant of the subject. I remember one in particular. He talked about how he couldn't imagine being circumcised and having his penis cut. This while he was himself circumcised. I can also remember another time, this while in high school, when one friend cut a hotdog in half and said "Let's make it a Jewish hotdog." I'm not sure what his status is, but it certainly amazed me how little he knew on the subject. Perhaps it is because almost all of my peers are cut. Maybe because we just don't talk about the subject much. I'm probably much more informed compared to any of my friends. I'm 19 now and I'm happy to be circumcised and I am glad that I'm similar to my peers. If not, showertime would possibly be quite awkward, especially considering the ignorance of my friends.

Adam (USA)

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Psychologically, I like to make contact with people who are "like me". I am not very interested in race or color, though. I am more preoccupied with shared experience.

I was circumcised at birth in the UK- or early enough in infancy to have no conscious memory of it. However, no one told me I was circumcised, so much of my early circumcision history was the discovery of my circumcision.

Circumcision is really two things: 1) an event (cutting away the redundant flesh) and 2) a state (having an exposed glans with a ring-scar along the cut-line &c). In infant circumcision the event assumes less importance (no memory - unless the operation which is performed without anesthetic leaves something in the subconscious -, no sense of transformation, no knowledge of "before"), while the state (cleanliness, appropriate masturbatory technics when the time comes, knowing whether other boys are the same or different) is everything.

As a child, I remember wondering why the skin on my penis changed color at a certain point, and why there seemed to be a line round it. When I was 4, I remember playing with a neighbor who was 6, and who asked to see my cock. I refused. I do not know why - I was too young to be offended or morally outraged. He then got his cock out, and I immediately recognized it as being "like mine". I then produced mine, all my reticence suddenly gone. This is my first memory of the real pleasure of "being the same". Was my initial refusal motivated by a suspicion that not everyone was the same?

Another early memory: my father used to leave the lavatory door open when peeing, and I used to ask him to close it. I have no knowledge of his circumcision status.

I soon knew that not all cocks looked the same, but then, not all faces or noses looked the same either, so I put this down to the diversity of nature; Although I had friends of both sorts, I was aware of a preference for "boys like me".

One of my school playmates suggested that some boys had their cocks shortened, and that this was what had happened to me and the friend who had shown me his when I was 4. I was skeptical, on the grounds that I could not see how one would define "too long", unless it hung out of the bottom of the short pants we used to wear, in which case, I thought, it would be easier to have longer trouser legs.

When - in secondary school, I suppose (so these memories must be culled from over a period of years) - we studied anatomy, the penis was shown with a bulbous thing inside the skin covering the end. I went home and spent some time trying to look in through the end of my meatus, but no matter how far I looked down (how agile I must have been!), I could see nothing but tube! Was the teacher wrong?

Finding myself in a dormitory on "house camp" (British school organized holiday), I chose a bed at the end, next to Graham. One day, a boy from further up the dormitory said: "David and Graham are circumcised". I had heard the word before (in Church, I think) but thought it was one of the (many) abstract words I did not really understand. Graham (an amiable clown) did all the talking (thankfully): "What does that mean?" he asked. "It means," said the other boy, "that you have had the skin cut off the end of your cock." Graham threw himself under the blankets of his bed to check. I was already aware that there were two sorts of cock, and knew straight away that this must be the real explanation.

I have always been grateful to Graham for being next to me when the discovery (literally) came. There was a sense in which I became (aware of being) circumcised 12 or 13 years after actual cut.

These memories occupy an important place in my life. That was the day I came to think of myself as circumcised, and when circumcision became a defining element in my identity. I'm glad I was circumcised as an infant!

David (UK)

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I don't buy the argument from some circumcised men who claim to have been traumatized for life from being circumcised in infancy. Life is full of traumatic experiences, and to attribute your problems to one very early event that you can't even remembers seems like an easy cop-out. Where we also traumatized by immunizations, or perhaps the experience of birth? I have gotten as much pleasure from my circumcised penis that I could have ever asked for. My advice to everyone is to enjoy the penis you have. And, if you aren't circumcised yet and want to have it done... go right ahead. It works great! If you were lucky enough to be circumcised at birth, don't look at part of your body as damaged goods -- love it, and get all the pleasure from it you can get. I would wager that you will get as much, if not more pleasure, from your circumcised penis as any foreskin covered knob can.

Anonymous (USA)

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The majority of the members of CIRCLIST are adult converts. Quite a number regret not having been circumcised at birth. For those of us who were circumcised at birth, our circumcision is neither a fantasy nor a odyssey - it is what we are, and the most precious part of our identity. Our entire experience of the world, both physically and emotionally, is lived out through our circumcision, not negatively, but joyfully. Still, it would be hard to underestimate the importance of this component in our identities.

Increasingly, anti-circ propaganda leads us to feel that it is not so much circumcision that is targetted, but the circumcised. There are websites where men who have shown pictures of themselves circumcised have received hate-mail form anti-circers, condemning them for showing themselves as they are. It would seem that the best a man circumcised as an infant can aspire to is a life of shame or foreskin restoration. I for one, and I suspect the majority of men circumcised as infants agree, do not buy this argument!

If it has now become impossible for those of us circumcised as infants to say that we do not feel betrayed, diminished, victimised, but are happy, confident and grateful for our circumcisions, I hope it will be understood what a sense of loss this represents for us.

David (USA)

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I was circumcised at birth, like most Australian boys. I was then, and I am now, very glad to be circumcised. However, when I had my son I decided to leave him 'natural' as has become the more liberal fashion. He could always choose to be circumcised when he was adult, I thought. But after having to have my son circumcised at age 9, and after seeing my nephews suffering balanitis and urinary tract infections and one with a bad phimosis, I don't think I'd make that choice again. I don't plan to have any more children but if I did have another son I'd have him circumcised.

Jim (Australia)

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Keeping My Sons Skinned Back Avoided Circumcision

I got myself cut when I was 25. Since I can remember I wanted to be cut. My one cousin was cut and another cousin was wearing his foreskin permanently retracted. I was about 9 when I started retracting my foreskin to try and keep it back but had the same problem than everyone else who tries to keep theirs back when only trying it in later years. I couldn't understand why my nephew's would stay back and mine wouldn't. I also tried tape, glue and elastic bands, all without success. I asked my nephew who was a year younger than me how he manages to keep his back who said his has always been like that. I persuaded him to ask his mother who told him she retracted it while he was still a baby and left it like that since. My mother started going out with a man (my father died when I was 8) who also wore his skin retracted.

After a while when I was 12, I managed enough courage to ask him how he gets his skin to stay back. He told me his mother retracted it when he was a baby. He said he did the same with his own 2 sons when they were babies.  When his two sons who was about 13 and 11 at the time came to visit us for a holiday a few months later,  I saw that they were still wearing theirs retracted. I also asked them if they had any problems keeping theirs retracted and they said no. They showed me that if they pushed their skins forward over the glans, it wouldn't even cover the whole glans and just a little push on it, will return it to its position behind the rim.

When I was 19 I lived with an old lady who's 2 grandsons who were about 10 and 6 came to visit for a holiday. When getting changed to go to the swimming pool with me, I noticed they were also wearing their foreskins retracted. By now I was desperate to keep mine retracted all the time. A few months later, I asked the 2 boys mother when she retracted the boys foreskins and she told me when they were still babies. I was quite shy about it and it took a lot of courage before I was eventually able to go for the operation and I was never sorry I did.

I would have preferred a tighter cut but never the less, I'm very happy to be cut and feel sorry for men and boys who are still walking around with cock's that looks like elephant trunks. 

When my first son was born, my wife and I discussed circumcision and I suggested we first try to retract his skin. He was about 2 weeks when we tried it. The opening was far too narrow and my wife asked the doctor how we should do it. He explained to her how to stretch the foreskin a little at a time. The skin was also still stuck to the glans and we had to tear it loose a little bit every couple of days. Eventually about 3 weeks after we started, his skin was fully retracted.  We continued to retract his foreskin each time his diaper was changed and he was bathed.  This was necessary to train the foreskin to stay full peeled back off of the glans.  This 'regular skinning' went on for some years, and even has he got older he had to be regularly checked and reminded to keep his foreskin peeled, least it be necessary to have him circumcised.

He is now 18 and never had a problem keeping his skin retracted since he became a teen. Because the skin was retracted all the time when he was young, it grew less than his cock during puberty and he now only has a very short foreskin that only covers about a quarter of the glans when flaccid if pushed forward and the glans is completely uncovered when partially and fully erect.  Fortunately his frenulum is not short and tight like, and so many others are, so to permit the foreskin to peel completely back on the shaft exposing the inner lining fully when he is erect.

My second son was born 3 years after his brother and we did the same with him when he was a baby. He also had no problems keeping his foreskin retracted through the years but when he was 11, he said he would prefer to be circumcised because it looks nicer so we had him done. I asked the doctor who did him to give him a low and tight cut and it came out very well.

Any way, it seems that if the foreskin is retracted when the boy is still a baby, it gets used to staying in the retractable position and therefore stays like that. My wife has given advice to many of her lady friends regarding the matter through the years and we have a number of friends who had tried with great success. I myself and many other men and women still prefer the tight look that comes with a well performed circumcision but for those who wouldn't like to put their sons through it at birth, or who don't have money for it, or who would just like to wait until the boy is old enough to decide for himself, could try the retraction method, but it has to be done while the boy is still unable to move around to much.

Mike

 

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I am circumcised and can't imagine it any other way. I personally feel that the foreskin would just get in the way. I have a friend who isn't circumcised, and he says the sensations could be better if he didn't have his foreskin -- however, I'm sure there are many out there who would argue this point.

-age 20, (Canada)

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I was circumcised at birth, as were my brothers, father and all other family members. The same is true of all of my friends, although there were several guys at school who were not. You couldn't have paid me to be one of the skin heads. While none of us ever said anything to them about their uncircumcised state, we often talked about it behind their back and unanimously stated we were proud and glad to be circumcised. Most of the girls we knew felt the same way. I cannot understand the great debate that goes on the Internet about circumcision. It is my feeling that this crowd is a small, but vocal minority of mostly gay men who are into the 'kink' and 'raunch' a foreskin can provide. I suggest that expectant parents ask their friends (both male and female) what they prefer. I would guess that 99% of all of the men and women will tell you they prefer a circumcised penis. I've had my own son circumcised, and if we have more they will be circumcised at birth as well and my bet is they will be much happier than the group of uncuts that find the now fantasize about being circumcised as adults and join CIRCLIST.

Bob (USA)

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I was circumcised at birth. For a long time, I thought I had been deprived of some greater sensitivity. When my son was born, I didn't want him to be cut. But my wife was afraid he would be teased when he got older. I tried to suggest to the doctor that he be done just halfway, but to no avail. When he came home from the hospital, he was totally cut. I don't think he has suffered for it, though. Since he became sexually active, he has enjoyed sex A LOT! Over the years I have known some nurses and medics who have assured me we did the right thing in having our son circumcised. Also, lately I have decided that although I might have had slightly different sexual sensations if I were left uncut, I certainly have had my share of very pleasant sexual experiences that included the most exquisite orgasms! So I don't spend much time missing my foreskin.

(New Jersey, USA)

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What does being circumcised (at birth) mean to me? No need to feel embarrassed - this circumcised man isn't - but the problem is that we have no direct apprehension of someone else's feelings or thoughts: the advantage of an institution like circlist is that you can talk to guys you don't have to explain these things to. So, it is difficult.

For a lot of cirlisters, circumcision is a memory, an event: they remember psyching themselves up to get it done, and the discovery of the results and the satisfaction at having achieved an ambition.

For me, having been circ'd at birth, it is a state. Describing it is like describing having having blue eyes or fair hair. It isn't accompanied by a peculiar sensation or lack of sensation. Close my eyes, and imagine me - and there I am, cut. If someone says "apple" I have a mental image of a green and red fruit. If someone says "penis" I imagine a circumcised one, because that's the way I am.

It is not so much a question of certain kinds of feeling, alarming feelings or no less disturbing sense of lack. It is an dentity. I "identify" with cut guys because they are "identical" to me.

It is also a series of discoveries. Discovering that I was circumcised. I knew I was after someone else applied the word to me. And I knew what the word meant when I had it explained to me. It was the discovery that some friend or other was cut, that a colleague was, that a woman's husband was and that she had fond memories of it.

The discoveries are important because it is a secret - and in the main, an unwanted secret. If you walked past me in the street you could very well think I was uncircumcised, and the smug look on my face is because I know that I am not.

It's a disappointment, too - the disappointment that comes when you go into a sauna or onto a nude beach and see that some poor guy isn't cut - ought one to go over and tell him?

Are you interested in sensation? OK I have no way of knowing - and neither do most of the guys at whom it is aimed - that the anti-circ propaganda that the foreskin is uniquely stuffed with high-performance nerves give tremendous sensation undreamt of by the ordinary cut-guy in the 501s. I'm dependent of those who came to circ as adults and who generally agree that getting cut was a pretty smart move. I'm grateful to them for telling me and I believe them.

The main area of sensation is around the glans between the sulcus and cut-line and along the site of the frenum (whatever that may be!). The addition of lubricant or saliva will transform the head of the glans into a sensitive area.

Do cut men take a long time to come? I think so! Patience is one of our many virtues, and so is perseverance. Get a porn video and watch cut guys in orgasm. When the face contorts, they aren't faking.

Regrets must be situated in the foreskin, because when they cut one off, I didn't have any of the others either. Why don't you come and join us? It's warm in here.

David (US)

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I have what my doctor refers to as a German circumcision. I appear to be uncircumcised when I am not erect but appear definitely circumcised when I have an erection. I prefer being circumcised, and I think the circumcision I have leads me to that conclusion. I have enough loose skin when erect to facilitate a pleasurable masturbation session without the mess of lubes. I also have friends whose circumcisions are so tight that when erect it hurts them, as well as uncircumcised friends who have problems with the size of the opening when extremely aroused.

I will have my sons cut the same way!

(Texas, USA)

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