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 ther