Male Circumcision

have an emotional component or a story, while this just isn’t the case with men. Interestingly, women are less sexually aroused during the follicular phase of their cycle, which may play a role in being selective about one’s mate.

Men have a strong neural reaction when exposed to a specific sex but not to the other sex, while women respond similarly to erotic stimuli that involve either sex. This appears to be true of both homosexual and heterosexual individuals of both genders. Patterns of orgasm, on the other hand, are the same between men and women. During orgasm, the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortical areas shut down immediately—similar to taking heroin. This accounts for the disinhibition that transiently occurs during orgasm.

After orgasm, there is the experience of an endorphin rush and releases of oxytocin and prolactin. This differs between men and women and isn’t completely understood. It is believed that these hormones contribute to increased bonding and to post-coital cuddling behavior seen in some individuals.

MALE CIRCUMCISION

As mentioned, male circumcision is the removal of the foreskin from the glans penis. There are specialized devices used in the newborn period to crimp off the foreskin. No actual stitching is involved. The blood flow to the foreskin is cut off and the remaining devitalized foreskin is removed. This is an elective procedure done for medical, social, or religious reasons. It can be done as an emergent or relatively urgent procedure if the foreskin gets trapped in the retracted position, called paraphimosis, or if there are chronic bladder infections.

The elective circumcision done at birth is done for the parent’s personal preference or for religious reasons. Societal norms drive the desire to have a child circumcised. It is considered to have a modest health benefit. It will decrease the incidence of HIV disease so it is done more often in Africa, where the prevalence of HIV is higher. There are no medical organizations that have either supported or banned circumcision in modern time. It cannot be done if there are birth defects involving the penis or in known bleeding disorders.

There is a decreased risk, not only of HIV disease, but of certain types of human papillomavirus infections, syphilis, genital herpes, and chancroid in men who get circumcised. There is mixed evidence that it protects against other sexually transmitted diseases and it does not decrease the risk of getting gonorrhea. If the penis cannot be retracted, this is called phimosis, for which circumcision is recommended. Forced retraction of the foreskin and infections of the foreskin are other reasons to have a circumcision. While circumcision will decrease the risk of penile cancer, it will not completely protect against it.

About 38 percent of males in the world are circumcised, with half being done for cultural or religious reasons. The rate is highest among Muslims, in Africa, in Israel, in South Korea, and in parts of the United States. It is rare in Europe, Latin America, Oceania, and Asia.

Circumcision is believed to have happened in prehistoric times. It spread from geographical area to geographical area. It was practiced by Ancient Egyptians and was picked up by Muslims and Jewish people. It was practiced by Australian Aborigines and by the Polynesians. It is believed to have been practiced by the Mayans and Aztecs. Some Native American peoples practiced circumcision.

In more modern times, circumcision became popular by Westerners in the late 19th Century, when doctors believed it would deter masturbation. At the time, masturbation was felt to cause a variety of mental and physical conditions. It was later felt to be healthier for the penis to be circumcised because the smegma, which is the whitish substance beneath the foreskin, was believed to cause disease.

Circumcision is a part of culture and religion. It is practiced specifically in today’s society by people in the Islamic and Jewish faith. In the Jewish faith, it is done on the eight day of a child’s life and must expose the glans penis entirely. In the Islamic faith circumcision is universal and is believed to lead to cleanliness and purity. It is done up to 15 years of age and is thought to be related to being able to recite the Quran. It is not practiced by most Christians as part of their religion.

Certain cultural groups in Africa have circumcision as a custom. It does not always have religious significance but is primarily cultural in origin. In some cultures in Africa, many