Is the real reason for circumcision purely to prevent masturbation?

Question

Is the real reason for most non-medical circumcisions purely because Jewish, Muslim and American parents want to make it harder for their sons to masturbate?

It's proven that it makes it more difficult. Lube is required ideally or it isn't as good.

Answer 1

Historically that was a major factor, with uptight nutcase Victorians like Kellogg willing to do anything to make any kind of sex less pleasurable. Once it was clear that the anti-masturbation effort was a failure, more uptight nutcases decided that natural men were unclean and spread diseases - another myth. Finally I guess people started noticing that European men were better lovers, did not get STDs any faster than American men, didn't smell bad, and generally lived happy and fertile lives without having their natural penises "improved." End of any "reason" to mutilate boys and men.

Answer 2

I have never seen any documentation to support that circumcision is done to prevent masturbation.

Circumcision was and still is done for religious reasons. Old Testament scripture supports circumcision for the Jews.

It was also done for years because it was thought to prevent infection as well as just because it had been the standard for a long time.

That really is no longer true. Circumcision is a personal decision made by the parents of a newborn boy based on prevailing beliefs, personal feelings about the procedure, etc. It is not a required procedure after birth.

Non-circumcised males require more indepth washing than a circumcised male as bacteria can remain under the foreskin if it is not pulled back and the area cleansed.

Answer 3

Well, in the US, non-religious and non-medically necessary circumcision did arise originally to prevent masturbation. Then as that proved to be clearly false, people claimed it increased hygiene (which even today people say that). It "may" be more hygienic in areas where clean water is hard to come by, and the possibility of dirt getting under the foreskin was high, but 80% of the world's male population is uncircumcised and they don't seem to have this problem. To say that an uncircumcised penis is significantly more unhygienic is false, rather, with proper hygiene, there's no essential difference.

Answer 4

No, the main arguments for non-medical circumcision are cosmetic, with hygiene being a primary one of most uninformed parents. The vast majority do it because they think it looks better, want him to "look like dad" or just know no alternative.

Answer 5

I don't think so. I really don't know the real reason as to why they do it. It doesn't make it any harder. But then again, I really don't know the real feeling of masturbating without being circumcised

Answer 6

Where did you get this bizarre idea? Circumcism was originally to distinguish males of one tribe from another tribe, then was adopted thousands of years ago by the israelites to make them "different and marked as men of their god". Masterbation after circumcism is not a problem, and lube is not required! Millions of americans can attest to that. The Muslims copied much of the jewish ideas including circumcism. The US medical community incorrectly determined circumcism was a necessity for hygiene, which is wrong of course. They also decided lobotomies were required for mental patients and that the mentally retarded must be sterilized--obviously they are not all knowing!!

Answer 7

NOT at all! Have a read....



CIRCUMCISION IS VERY BENEFICIAL, its cleaner, healthier and several prestigious research institutions have proved that circumcised men have less risk of contracting STD's such as AIDS-HIV, syphilis or herpes.

Uncircumcised penises are difficult to keep clean, and more prone to infections and penile cancer, studies have shown.
A circumcised penis is naturally clean and virtually free from urinary infections. You will not have to worry again with careful washing of your penis.

About STD's:

As I said, several studies carried out by prestigious research bodies have proved that uncircumcised penises are more prone to infections and contraction of STD's, including AIDS-HIV. It has been confirmed that circumcised men are up to 70% less likely to be infected than those who are uncircumcised. Have a look at this site: http://www.torontodailynews.com/index.php/HealthNews/2006121404Circumcision

As for women, studies also show that circumcision also protects female partners from AIDS-HIV and other STD's. Browse this article: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2006/02_08_06.html

About sensitivity of a circumcised penis:

NO medical or physiological study has ever shown that circumcision reduces sensitivity, opposed to common belief. It is completely FALSE that circumcision reduces penis sensitivity. The American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) confirms this on their web site; have a look at: http://www.aap.org/pubed/zzzjzmemh4c.htm

Circumcision is an easy and nowadays *painless* procedure, which has many benefits, and virtually no risks.
Circumcision is NOT an amputation. Circumcision is NOT comparable at all to female circumcision, which is something completely different.

Circumcision rates are INCREASING nowadays, both in the United States and overseas. Many African, Asian and Latin American countries with little circumcision tradition are starting to promote the procedure to help to reduce the AIDS-HIV infection rates.

Finally, this site has a lot of useful and *unbiased* information. Make sure you have a good look: http://www.circinfo.net

Answer 8

No...was originally designed to show Jewishness, a covenant with God. Later, people saw the hygenic value in this. Masturbation would have nothing to do with it.

Answer 9

I'm not quite sure how being circumcised makes it more difficult to masturbate....so, no.

Answer 10

No, it has no effect on that, the reason to have a circumcision, is to keep the area cleaner, and less prone to get infections in the area, without the little turtle neck, debris, and bacteria can form inside, it has no effect on sex.