Men who are circumcised are in for some bad news – it puts them at a disadvantage in the bedroom, according to experts.
A study found those who’ve had their foreskin removed as children or adults experience less intense sexual pleasure and orgasm than their peers.
‘We’re not saying less sexual activity or satisfaction, but sensitivity,’ senior author Dr Piet Hoebeke, from Ghent University Hospital, said.
The practice is common in the U.S, with three-quarters of men having the procedure for non-religious reasons. However, it is rare in the UK, with a rate of just six per cent, according to World Health Organisation figures.
Some religions, such as Judaism and Islam, consider circumcision part of religious practice.
British doctors say that although it can reduce the risk of some types of infection the risks associated with routine circumcision outweigh any potential benefits.
The latest study surveyed 1,369 men over the age of 18, who responded to leaflets handed out in train stations across Belgium.
The men were asked whether they were circumcised, and were then asked to rate how sensitive their penis was, how intense their orgasms were and whether they experience any pain or numbness when they are aroused.
Overall, 310 men who took the survey were circumcised, and 1,059 were not. Each rated how sensitive their penis was on a scale from 0 to five, with higher numbers being the most sensitive.
For example, uncircumcised men reported an average sensitivity score of 3.72 when they or their partner stroked the head of their manhood compared to 3.31 amongst circumcised men.
‘It’s a significant difference,’ Hoebeke said.
Uncircumcised men also reported more intense orgasms.
Male circumcision prevalence in 2007: Yellow is lower than 20%, orange is 20-80% and red is higher than 80%
One possible explanation for any potential difference in sensitivity is that a man’s foreskin may protect his penis’s head from rubbing against underwear and clothing. It’s possible, the researchers write, that friction makes the head of the penis thicker, drier and ultimately less sensitive.
The researchers also found circumcised men were more likely to report more pain and numbness during arousal than uncircumcised men, which Dr Hoebeke said is likely due to scar tissue.
‘I’m amazed that people report pain during sexual pleasure… that was unexpected,’ he told Reuters Health.
However, Dr Aaron Tobin from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, who was not involved in the study, said: ‘The medical evidence and the benefits of male circumcision are abundantly clear.’
The American Academy of Pediatrics says the benefits of male circumcision outweigh the risks, but stops short of recommending universal circumcision.
