Should Boys be Circumcised?

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The foreskin is a specialized organ, with protective, sensory, mechanical, and sexual functions, which are destroyed by its amputation.

The foreskin protects the meatus of infant boys from ammoniacal diapers and prevents meatitis, meatal ulceration, and meatal stenosis.

Moreover, the foreskin has immunological functions that prevent infection. The most important pathogen in urinary tract infection (UTI) is Escherichia coli, present in feces. The muscle fibers in the foreskin form a whorl at the orifice that serves as a preputial sphincter, keeping feces away from the meatus and helping to prevent UTI in infants. The subpreputial moisture contains lysozyme, which destroys pathogens. For example, circumcised adult males have a higher incidence of non-specific urethritis and circumcised boys have more Staphylococcus aureus in the urethra.

The foreskin is a specific erogenous zone, which is the most highly innervated part of the penis. A ridged band, which originates from the frenulum and encircles the opening of the foreskin, contains nerve endings arranged in rete ridges near the mucocutaneous boundary. The foreskin contains the tissue on the penis most sensitive to fine-touch . Circumcision degrades sensory input to the central and autonomic nervous systems and results in an increase in intra-vaginal ejaculatory latency time.

The foreskin has important mechanical functions. Since the foreskin is not attached to the underlying structure, it is free to glide back and forth over the glans penis during intercourse. The penis glides in the foreskin during intercourse, reducing friction, vaginal dryness and abrasion and makes intercourse more comfortable for both partners. The force required to penetrate increases 10-fold when the foreskin is absent.

Destruction of the foreskin may also adversely affect physiological function in the female partner. Lack of the foreskin is implicated in female sexual arousal disorder.

Destruction of these protective and sexual functions degrades health and well-being throughout life, so non-therapeutic circumcision of infants and boys should not be performed.