Circumcision Recommendations To Reduce HIV
Can Decreased Sexual Sensitivity And Function
Might Increase Divorce Rate
By Michael Mooney (December 29, 2006)

Routine circumcision of all males is recommended by some public health officials, especially in the United States. In the USA about 60 percent of adult males are already circumcised. This is not as common in many other countries, even Catholic-majority countries, such as Italy. New promotions of circumcision are being made in the medical community and in the popular press because of the idea that circumcision can reduce the rate of new HIV infections.

One study in 2003 showed that males who are circumcised were less likely to become infected with HIV. Investigation of that study and related published data show the errors that this study contained. Indeed, while circumsion has been practiced routinely for many years by some doctors because of the long-held notion that it can reduce the potential for sexually transmitted diseases, a study in The Journal of the American Medical Association in 1997 investigated this notion and concluded that circumcised men were not less likely to contract a variety of sexually transmitted diseases. In fact, that study asserted that circumcised men were slightly more likely to contract various sexually transmitted diseases. If circumcision is viewed as a form of surgical mutilation, a lack of benefit raises questions about circumcision as a routine practice.

Subsequently, two higher quality studies conclused that circumcision could reduce the rate of HIV infection, so an increasing number of public health officials have been promoting the idea that circumcision can reduced the world-wide spread of HIV. The most recent study, however, stated that circumcision did not protect homosexual men from HIV seroconversion.

While public health officials are promoting circumcision as as a way to reduce disease and to save public health-care money, when published data on the human element is considered, this could be considered to be tragic concept for individuals who experience significantly decreased sexual sensitivity and the resulting bonding with their partners that produces healthy long-term married relationships. This decrease in sensitivity has been shown to cause circumcised males to resort more frequently to masturbation and other outlets for sex than simple coitus with their partner.

PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE
Circumcision, while causing documented potential psychological shock to a male infant that can last a lifetime, destroys delicate nerves and can reduce sensitivity in the penis.

The data in the table below was taken from a study published in The British Journal of Urology International. It shows that loss of this nerve tissue loss can produce a significant reduction in the pleasure and sexual satisfaction that males and females experience when having sexual intercourse which can result in less satisfying sexual bonding. Does circumcision increase the rate of divorce? Several researchers suggest that this is true.

Among other things, the study showed that women who had sex with a circumcised partner were almost half as likely to experience a vaginal orgasm as women who had sexual intercourse with a male who was uncircumcised. This may be because some of the sensitive nerve tissues that are cut off of the penis match up closely with the primary vaginal nerve tissue. Mutual sensation in these two matching areas can create deep, satisfying bonding.

Here is a reprint of some of the data.

From: O'Hara K, O'Hara J. The effect of male circumcision on the sexual enjoyment of the female partner. BJU Int. 1999;83(Suppl 1):79–84.

The last measurement, "Overall Rating," is telling. Sex with an uncircumcised partner was 4.43 times better rated (8.03 versus 1.81)
than sex with a circumcised partner. Does it seem like this difference in satisfaction could result in more broken marriages?

In fact, George Hughes, MD, looked at this issue and said that he found that being uncircumcised was associated with a higher rate of a sexual compatibility in marriage. Hughes GK. Circumcision: Another Look. Ohio Med, Feb 1990; 86(2):92

Circumcision removes delicate structures in the penis that are critical to sexual sensitivity and function. (1-4) Several studies have shown weakened erectile function, decreased penile sensitivity and difficulty in reaching sexual satisfaction for some males after circumcision.(5-8)

While there might be a cost savings from a decrease in HIV infection with increased male circumcision, one question that detailed inquiry promotes is whether public health officials will fully and completely inform males about the risk of life-long decreased sexual sensitivity.

Michael Mooney
www.michaelmooney.net

1. Taylor JR, et al. The prepuce: Specialized mucosa of the penis and its loss to circumcision. Brit J Urol Feb 1996;77:291-295.
2. Cold CJ, et al. The prepuce. Brit J Urol Jan 1999; 83 Suppl.1:34-44.
3. Winkelmann RK, et al. The erogenous zones: Their nerve supply and significance. Proceedings of the Staff Meetings of the Mayo Clinic 34(2):39-47.
4. Winkelmann RK. The cutaneous innervation of the human newborn prepuce. J Invest Dermat Jan 1956; 26(1):53-67
5. Masood S, et al. Penile sensitivity and sexual satisfaction after circumcision: are we informing men correctly? Urol Int. 2005+ADs-75(1):62-6.
6. Fink KS, et al. Adult circumcision outcomes study: effect on erectile function, penile sensitivity, sexual activity and satisfaction. J Urol. 2002 May;167(5):2113-6.
7. LinksShen Z, et al. Erectile function evaluation after adult circumcision. Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2004 Jan;10(1):18-9. [Article in Chinese]
8. Boyle GJ, et al. Male Circumcision: Pain, Trauma and Psychosexual Sequelae J Health Psych,7(3):329-343 (2002)

SEE ALSO: China Not Ready For Circumcision To Stop AIDS