The cruellest cut
It’s been a hard road for the uncut population, with many being seen as dirty and ugly and subject to insulting slurs.
Recent studies have revealed that fewer than one in 10 boys are now being circumcised in Australia, as society is slowly understanding the benefits of this vital piece of skin. With its main function being a type of protective armour for the glans, the foreskin also keeps the skin of the penis soft, maintaining pH balance and optimal warmth.
Dr Murray Drummond, senior lecturer at the University of South Australia School of Health Science, also says the sexual experience is enhanced when the foreskin slips back for sexual intercourse.
Researchers have identified that having a foreskin makes the tip of the penis more sensitive, so when the penis is drawn back it makes sex more pleasurable as the senses are heightened, Drummond said.
One of the most common myths about circumcision is that it makes the penis hygienic. Eyes without eyelids would not be any cleaner; the circumcised penis is constantly exposed to abrasion and dirt, making it, in fact, more unclean. The loss of the shielding foreskin leaves the urinary tract defenceless against invasion by bacterial and viral pathogens.
Really young boys should be taught how to look after the foreskin and learn how to clean it. Boys should take responsibility and begin cleaning underneath the foreskin at a young age, Drummond said.
Research has shown that depending on the amount of skin cut off in circumcision, up to 80 percent of the penile skin is desensitised. This amputation of the foreskin means severing the rich nerve network and all the nerve receptors in the foreskin itself.
Circumcision alters the appearance of the penis drastically as it leaves a large circumferential surgical scar on the penile shaft.
It’s still an invasive procedure to an individual that possibly doesn’t need to be done, Drummond said.
I think it needs to be discussed a little more and talked about freely. We need to get the message across that just because dad is circumcised doesn’t mean you have to circumcise your child.
In fact some men who were circumcised as children are now attempting, with the help of modern surgery, to recreate what they were born with. In essence the foreskin is recreated by slowly elongating the remaining penile skin. If these men had been able to make the decision for themselves as children, they might have not have chosen to be cut.
Circumcision is also a hot issue for many in the gay community. On Gaydar.com it rates its own mention on any profile of users of the website, highlighting the preferences and prejudices that some have. Some will argue that sex is better with one or the other. However, Dr Drummond thinks that we should be considering individuals rather than their appendages. This may be a great challenge for many in our community.
In today’s modern society circumcision still holds a place. However, he says, the decision to circumcise should be an individual choice based on health and religious issues. It really shouldn’t be based on cosmetic appeal. The body should not be seen as a vehicle for someone to ogle at.
