By definition, circumcision is a procedure to expose the glands of the penis for easier cleaning. It would also be easier to keep fingernails clean if the whole nail were just removed. However we can’t just go removing parts of peoples’ bodies for the sake hygiene. Oh, wait.
Now, circumcision does have some health benefits – such as reducing the risk of contracting HIV by 60 percent, yet condoms alone reduce it by 80 percent, according to the World Health Organization. And, as defined, circumcision only makes cleaning easier, it is not impossible to clean an uncircumcised penis.
Circumcision is often done in America because parents feel their son’s genitals should resemble their father’s.
This trend of “his should look like mine” goes back for generations, because at some point in history Americans forgot this all started in the 19th century with “well, we don’t want him to be a sinner.” Christian doctors of the time convinced parents that circumcision prevented the sin of masturbation, according to “Circumcision: A History Of The World’s Most Controversial Surgery.”
According to “Male circumcision: global trends and determinants of prevalence, safety and acceptability,” regular, non-religious circumcision is not practiced in most other countries. In fact, according to the same article, some countries do not allow circumcision except for specific medical or religious reasons.
This is likely because the foreskin is filled with nerve endings that are important to sex. It prevents the penis from becoming desensitized and provides a natural lubricant, according to “Immunological functions of the human prepuce.”
Individuals who are angry they were circumcised are even suing some hospitals. According to ABC News, a man, William Stowell, sued for being deprived “the pleasure of natural, normal sexual intercourse.” His lawyer had filed similar cases and won upwards of $65,000.
Women are even affected by circumcision, as proved by a study in 1999. This study, published in the British Journal of Urology, found that more than half of women feel less discomfort and more pleasure during sex with uncircumcised men.
It simply isn’t fair to make a permanent bodily decision for your child when they have no way of consenting. If you leave your son’s penis alone, he can decide to change it on his own later. So unless your religion calls for it, just don’t do it. They will be just as healthy, and maybe even happier with their foreskin. You might even avoid a lawsuit.