Suggestions on adult circumcision?

Question

I'm 21 years old and I'm considering circumcision. I'm not sure if it's a problem or not, but I can not pull the forskin over the head, it just hurts too much. I've been suggested circumcision would solve this, and have some other pros, but I have also heard about lots of disadvantages of this. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

ADVANTAGES OF STAYING INTACT:
--Circumcision cuts WAY down on sexual enjoyment for a man due to loss of nerve-rich foreskin.
--Getting cut causes the glans (head) to develop a keratinized layer to protect from rubbing on clothing, further cutting sensation. Many cut men are unable to ejaculate during intercourse and have to finish "by hand." Intact men can "go all the way."A new study proves conclusively, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that circumcision decreases sensitivity for the man. http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2006.06685.x
--A full 90% of women say sex is better with an intact man. http://www.healthcentral.com/drdean/408/60750.html
--foreskin makes masturbation more fun - and better for your partner to play with.
--Circumcision hurts, and you'll be in some degree of pain/discomfort for a couple of months.
--a cut penis looks kind of sad with that scar where the foreskin belongs. Uncut is much hotter looking.
--Circumcision has a slight chance of complications. It is generally best to avoid unnecessary surgery.

ADVANTAGES OF BEING CUT: Circumcision has no advantages that are not fictional
--You can be just as clean if you are uncircumcised. Wash. It's THAT simple. Even if you're cut, you still need to wash.

You can get some good information at http://www.cirp.org/library/treatment/phimosis -- you'll have to skip over some stuff about babies' foreskins to get to the relevant portion. Sometimes all you need to do is change the way you masturbate: http://www.cirp.org/library/treatment/phimosis/beauge2/

Good luck, and stay WHOLE!

Answer 2

Whenever this sort of question is asked on here there seems to be very polarised views expressed. In the end you are the one that needs to decide and for what reason.

If it is just because retracting your foreskin is painful (although you don't say whether this is for cleaning, masturbation or making love) it could be that some advice and perhaps creams from your doctor or urologist will help. If having done some 'exercises' to loosen the skin it still is a problem/painful, the doc may want to do a little or lot of surgery - full circumcision is the most extreme ie complete removal of the foreskin - even then there are various types of circ that you can consider. The outcome (sorry forgive the pun) may not be what you expect - some say that there is a loss of sensation - however this may, for you, not be a problem eg if you were to suffer from prem ejaculation - but on the other hand (sorry - pun again) it might be if, over time, the glans skin hardens and you get less excited by 'normal' stimulation.

There is lots of web sites - pro and anti circ largely - few seem to be neutral. See www.circlist.com just as an example.

If your reason is something different eg cosmetic or other men around you eg at the gym are cut and you are not, then that is a whole different discussion.

Either way - try to find someone you feel comfortable talking to and trust - dad, brother, friend or doctor about this subject. They are probably better to talk it thro' than on here - I realise that at 21 you may feel a bit embarrassed but don't - this is important and you need to feel you can get it right - one thing is for sure, it quite difficult to get your foreskin back if you decide to get it cut.

Anyway good luck, hope it goes well whatever you decide.

Answer 3

You probably have a condition called "phimosis," where the foreskin opening is too tight/narrow for you to retract it fully. I would hesitate to get circumcised just yet, as there are several options available that you can try first.

The first thing you should try are "stretching exercises." In one stretching exercise, take two fingers and stretch the opening of the foreskin as far as it'll go without pain or discomfort (like increasing its radius) by hooking a finger on either side of the opening. It's a little hard to describe and may take a few tries to get right. It's best to do this exercise after a shower and you'll need to do it every day where you stretch, hold it as stretched for a few seconds, then relax a few seconds, and repeat the process for a few minutes. After a few weeks to a month, your foreskin opening should be large/elastic enough for you to retract your foreskin without pain.

If this doesn't work after a few weeks to a month, ask your doctor about prescription creams. According to some studies, these creams are the most cost-effective, usually when coupled with the stretching exercise. Again, it may take a few weeks to a month for this to produce significant results so just be patient.

If this doesn't work, then you definitely should consider surgical options. Do know that this doesn't necessarily mean a circumcision, as there are less invasive surgical procedures that leave most of your foreskin untouched and heal much quicker with less pain. Circumcision should only be seriously considered if everything you're willing to try has failed.

See the links for more info on the above and in general. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Answer 4

There are advantages and disadvantages to circumcision.

Your condition does not require circumcision. Most likely if you stretch your foreskin daily by rolling it back and forth over the head, it will become comfortable to do so, and then ahhh ... more then comfortable to do so.

If you get circumcised right now, you'll probably think its great, since your foreskin isn't currently working 'properly'. But there's no way to undo it.

My suggestion? Deal with your foreskin, speak to a urologist, gradually stretch it, and see how you find it. Basically, get a 'functioning' foreskin and see how you find that before deciding whether you want to get circumcised.

Answer 5

It's up to you. You have the benefit of choosing being uncircumcised.

I've heard of guys getting circumcised and all it requires is that you don't 'play' with it for like a week.

And trust me, infants go through more pain than adults:
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9712/23/circumcision.anesthetic/
http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1f21e.htm

For adults you get put to sleep; something that can't be done with newborns. =)

As for disadvantages:
http://forums.govteen.com/showpost.php?p=3069995&postcount=2

If you want to give a steroid cream (with a 94% success rate) a try, you'll have to ask for it:
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S1677-55382005000400012&script=sci_arttext

It's: 0.05% betamethasone

BTW, the foreskin doesn't need to go back over the head as long as you can wash most of it when soft in the shower. It may get ever more loose along the way. Erections shouldn't be painful nor should it be hard to clean (considering you slide it back and rub the head for 5 seconds; which rather feels sensitive).

Answer 6

Circumcision should be a last resort, not a first option treatment. Your penis will be bruised and swollen and you will suffer painful sensitivity until the skin on the glans thickens after constantly rubbing on clothes. Recovery takes at least 6 weeks, until you can have any sort of gentle sex at all and swelling can last 6 months or more. Try stretching first. See the instructions below.

Answer 7

getting circumcised will not hurt. they have these things called anesthetics in the modern world. i got circumcised at 23. it DOES NOT HURT. anyone that says it does is either a sook or doesn't know what they talkin bout. so far 3 year on there are no disadvantages.
most people, even on here who were circumcised only regret not getting it earlier.

Answer 8

here in the Philippines it's a culture. when a boy reaches 6y/o he has to be circumcised. thats why a lot of Filipino men are circumcised. and way back many years ago they don't use anesthesia thats why it is really painful. it will be so hard for you to walk or to stand.

they say they need to be circumcised so that no germs will be traped in that foreskin.

disadvantages are:
- really painful
- it will be hard for you to walk
- you cannot wear underwear

but its ur choice if your gonna take circumcision or not.

Answer 9

circumcision is extremely painful, especially if you're not a baby. you need to talk to a urologist to fully determine the side effects. if it's painful to retract the foreskin then you may have some adhesions. a urologist may be able to sever these without a complete circumcision.

Answer 10

Well I want you to tell you first is that its in my people's culture to be circumcised. Some people got circumcised when they were born and some when they get older and some not at all. Well I'm done with it when I'm 12. Yup, its painful but the advantages it has is that when you get "excited", its not painful like you experience and its easier to "clean" it. Maybe it's in your culture that circumcision is not practised to all boys(men). It's your decision now to go with it or not.