What exact;y is circumcision? And do all men have to get it done?

Answer 1

It's when the foreskin that usually covers and protects the head of the penis is cut off in a surgery. It's popular among Muslims and Jews for religious reasons, and the United States is the last developed nation doing it to newborns, but it's going down, too (as low as 14% in some states; I'll give the links below).

So no, not all men have to get it done. In fact, the majority of the men in the world are uncircumcised.Circumcision is a traditionally Jewish and Muslim surgery, although it was introduced and encouraged to the Western, developed world (North America and Europe, but especially the USA) as a way to stop masturbation, especially with the help of Dr. Kellogg. (see link 1) However, although scientific studies have discovered that circumcision harms masturbation by up to over 60% (2), needless to say, it doesn’t completely stop masturbation. Many circumcised guys just find it more convenient to use a lube like KY or lotion as a result (3) since the typically moist foreskin (like the eyelids) is not there to rub the head of the penis with (4).

Most developed nations quickly rejected circumcision after noticing its ineffectiveness against masturbation (they were quite religious back then!), and as a result the United States remains the last developed nation doing it to a significant percentage of newborns. (5) This was done as a result of the for-profit American health care system promoting myths about benefits of circumcision (6), such as preventing penile cancer (6a, 6b), preventing HIV (6c, 6d) despite the USA being the developed nation with the highest HIV rates and circumcision rates (6e, 5), and preventing STDs (6d, 6f). As a result, circumcision now brings in hundreds of millions of dollars to doctors and the American health system. (7)

However, circumcision has been becoming less popular as years have passed by. In the 1960s over 90% of guys were circumcised in the USA, now circumcision rates are as low as 14% in some states. (8) More and more parents are discovering that circumcision carries more risks than benefits, and realize that by leaving their sons uncircumcised, their sons have the choice of choosing what they’d like, since the surgery is irreversible (you can't go back if you don't like it or if it goes wrong).

Circumcision risks include the loss of sexual pleasure according to multiple studies (2, 9, 10, 11). Those studies take into effect many sensation points, including the foreskin, and they involve many participants. There have been other studies that claim no difference, but they don’t even take into effect the nerve endings on the foreskin, which as seen in one study, are some of the most sensitive points on the penis (10). One study even found an increase in erectile dysfunction rates after circumcision (10a). In another study, it was found that females ended up reaching orgasm with and preferring uncircumcised males in 9 out of 10 cases (10b). In addition, circumcision is extremely painful on newborns (12, 13, 14), and you risk many bad conditions, such as a buried penis when too much foreskin is removed and limits the size of the penis (15), or adhesions or skin bridges that develop from the head to the shaft when the skin heals after the surgery (16), meatal stenosis [occurs in up to 10% of circumcised males!] when the opening of the penis becomes irritated from too much exposure and rubbing and begins to close up (17), and meatal ulcers (18). All those risks are, of course, not including the possibility of having too much skin removed, which can cause discomfort during erections due to lack of skin to allow the penis to expand, and could consequently cause a hairy penis by pulling pubic hair and skin to the shaft. Often a circumcision scar develops around the penis after circumcision. In addition, circumcision has negative effects on breastfeeding. (18)

To conclude, here is a link that describes the anatomy of the foreskin (19) and the development of the foreskin with infants, a link especially helpful for parents (19a). Ultimately, one survey found that although uncircumcised guys are a bit more satisfied percentage-wise, it’s within the margin of error. (20) The only difference is that those unsatisfied uncircumcised guys can simply get circumcised and end up satisfied either way. If you're cut or uncut and happy, you'll say that side is better. If you got cut later in life, you'll say cut because you had problems with your foreskin before. If you're cut and had something go wrong or wish to have had a choice, then you'll say uncut. One survey found that up to half of circumcised guys wished to have had the choice themselves (as in, been left uncircumcised and they could have chosen to get circumcised if they wished later on in life). That's a huge number. (21) That, along with the risks and negative effects that are being seen more with the help of the Internet, may be what is bringing down circumcision rates.

Answer 2

Circumcision is the partial or complete removal of the foreskin, the soft fold of skin that usually covers the glans (penis head), protecting it and keeping it more sensitive. After circumcision the glans is almost always completely exposed to the outer environment.

In actuality, about 70-80% of the world's men are uncircumcised. Even in the US, where circumcision is still common, the circumcision rate has fallen from nearly 90% to just under 60% today (with rates being much higher/lower depending on the state).

As long as a guy's foreskin is working normally (which is true in like 95+% of men), he keeps it clean (which is quick and easy), and he practices safe sex (which he should anyway), then there's no really good reason for circumcision other than for religious reasons (sometimes even that is dubious).

Answer 3

Circumcision is male genital mutilation, forced on baby boys as a religious rite by Jews and Muslims and done for long-discredited "hygienic" reasons by other ill-informed parents in a few areas of the world such as the Philipines and the USA. The foreskin is ripped away from the head of the penis, to which it is firmly attached in babies, and cut off. This is NOT "extra" skin; it is rich in pleasure receptors and it is nature's way of protecting the glans (head) from rubbing on clothing and other damage.

Only about 15% of the men in the world have had this done to them. Natural men have sex, father children, and almost never have any problems with their foreskins. They and their partners enjoy sex as it was intended to be.

Circumcision for other than religious reasons is very rare in Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America and Canada, and rates have fallen drastically in Australia and New Zealand. In the U.S. just over half of male infants are still being mutilated, but the rate is falling very rapidly, and with luck it will soon be a rarity here as well.

Answer 4

It is a mutilating surgery which removes the main pleasure feeling part of the penis, the foreskin, which covers and protects the glans (head of the penis), keeping it sensitive to pleasure.

No, all men do not have to get it done, infact most men, 85%, have complete penises. Only the US, Jews and Muslims mutilate their sons. The more advanced nations do not do routine mutilations.

Answer 5

They cut off a bit of your penis. It is completely unnecessary so not only is it not true that all men have to get it done, but actually only a small proportion (15%) of men in the world do get it done. There is no real reason to do it and claims that there are have not stood up to rigorous testing; people do it for religious and cultural reasons.

Answer 6

when you cut off the foreskin of your penis and no not all men have it done.

Answer 7

It's when you have your foreskin removed. And no you don't have to have it done.