Circumcision
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In the UK, Europe and USA, '''circumcision''' normally refers to a surgical process on males. It involves the partial or complete surgical removal of the foreskin (the loose tissue covering the glans) of the [[penis]]. The style in common use in the west for nearly two thousand years (since bar Kochba) is radical circumcision, in which the entire foreskin is removed. Prior to this, the commonest style amongst Jews was partial in which only the tip of the foreskin was removed. | In the UK, Europe and USA, '''circumcision''' normally refers to a surgical process on males. It involves the partial or complete surgical removal of the foreskin (the loose tissue covering the glans) of the [[penis]]. The style in common use in the west for nearly two thousand years (since bar Kochba) is radical circumcision, in which the entire foreskin is removed. Prior to this, the commonest style amongst Jews was partial in which only the tip of the foreskin was removed. | ||
| − | Circumcision may be performed for religious (eg, in Judaism and Islam) or cultural reasons (e.g. allegedly to reduce lustful thoughts as in Victorian era Anglo-Saxon countries -- some of which continues, chiefly in North America), or health reasons | + | Circumcision may be performed for religious (eg, in Judaism and Islam) or cultural reasons (e.g. allegedly to reduce lustful thoughts as in Victorian era Anglo-Saxon countries -- some of which continues, chiefly in North America), or health reasons. |
| − | + | Circumcision is now much rarer in most of the developed world, with the notable exception of the United States and Canada where, although even there it is decreasing slowly, most boys get their foreskins removed perinatally. (This partially explains why lots of Norh American boys experiment with [[Prince Albert]]s.) Until recently, male members of the British Royal Family were circumcised; Charles, Prince of Wales, was circumcised by a Jewish mohel (Lionel Snowman). | |
| + | |||
| + | In a [[BDSM]] context, male circumcision usually has the effect of reducing glans sensitivity, as the skin thereof thichens considerably, thus alllowing more extended stimulation before [[ejaculation]]. A demand for [[control]] from a [[Dominant]] may be more readily met after circumcision. | ||
==Risks== | ==Risks== | ||
| − | + | The circumcison operation is not without risk: there are complex and dense nerve networks in the foreskin and the glans which may be damaged to some extent during any circumcision. | |
| − | + | The typical reduction in sensitivity may not be desirable in the longer term as there is some suspicion that older men become impotent sooner than otherwise because of just this reduction in stimulation. | |
==Female circumcision== | ==Female circumcision== | ||
| − | In females, circumcision is the partial or complete removal of the prepuce (clitoral hood) | + | In females, circumcision is the partial or complete removal of the prepuce (clitoral hood) and possibly some of the labia minora. (Removal of the [[clitoris]] is not circumcision, it is [[Female genital mutilation|mutilation]]. There are similar consequences for reduction in stimulation as in males, but as female arousal is more varied, and less concentrated, than is male arousal, the consequences are less predictable. |
| + | |||
| + | Whereas male circumcision is permitted in most developed countries, female circumcision is illegal in the United Kingdom (other than for health reasons) and many other European countries. It is, however, common in Nigeria and some other African countries, more among Moslems than Christians. The politics of female circumcision is far more fraught than that of male circumcision, religious or otherwise. | ||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
Revision as of 11:41, 6 March 2007
In the UK, Europe and USA, circumcision normally refers to a surgical process on males. It involves the partial or complete surgical removal of the foreskin (the loose tissue covering the glans) of the penis. The style in common use in the west for nearly two thousand years (since bar Kochba) is radical circumcision, in which the entire foreskin is removed. Prior to this, the commonest style amongst Jews was partial in which only the tip of the foreskin was removed.
Circumcision may be performed for religious (eg, in Judaism and Islam) or cultural reasons (e.g. allegedly to reduce lustful thoughts as in Victorian era Anglo-Saxon countries -- some of which continues, chiefly in North America), or health reasons.
Circumcision is now much rarer in most of the developed world, with the notable exception of the United States and Canada where, although even there it is decreasing slowly, most boys get their foreskins removed perinatally. (This partially explains why lots of Norh American boys experiment with Prince Alberts.) Until recently, male members of the British Royal Family were circumcised; Charles, Prince of Wales, was circumcised by a Jewish mohel (Lionel Snowman).
In a BDSM context, male circumcision usually has the effect of reducing glans sensitivity, as the skin thereof thichens considerably, thus alllowing more extended stimulation before ejaculation. A demand for control from a Dominant may be more readily met after circumcision.
Risks
The circumcison operation is not without risk: there are complex and dense nerve networks in the foreskin and the glans which may be damaged to some extent during any circumcision.
The typical reduction in sensitivity may not be desirable in the longer term as there is some suspicion that older men become impotent sooner than otherwise because of just this reduction in stimulation.
Female circumcision
In females, circumcision is the partial or complete removal of the prepuce (clitoral hood) and possibly some of the labia minora. (Removal of the clitoris is not circumcision, it is mutilation. There are similar consequences for reduction in stimulation as in males, but as female arousal is more varied, and less concentrated, than is male arousal, the consequences are less predictable.
Whereas male circumcision is permitted in most developed countries, female circumcision is illegal in the United Kingdom (other than for health reasons) and many other European countries. It is, however, common in Nigeria and some other African countries, more among Moslems than Christians. The politics of female circumcision is far more fraught than that of male circumcision, religious or otherwise.
See Also
- Body modification
- Female genital mutilation
- The Circumcision Information and Resource Pages
- Circumcision on the Wikipedia general encyclopedia.
