Misinformation about uncircumcised penises is everywhere. On top of the ever-changing facts we hear about sensitivity and cleanliness, there's a whole lotta stereotypes and jokes that come along with the territory, too. This might change in the near future, however, because fewer and fewer newborns are being circumcised in the United States. According to the CDC, only 58.3 percent of male babies were circumcised in 2010, whereas in 1979 it was 64.5 percent. In the rest of the world, however, uncut penises are the norm, and circumcision is usually confined to Jewish and Muslim communities.
If you happen to be a fan of penises that belong to most Americans, you aren't as likely to be an expert on au natural penises. For this very reason, it's key if and/or when you encounter one to know a few things in advance. While it can admittedly be tricky for some who've shouldered the burden of oppressive standards of beauty and body hate from all angles not to indulge in some good-old-fashioned ribbing about hooded penises, it's always good to take the body positive high road and not cringe, comment, or make a face when you see one. (I definitely learned this the hard way long ago.)
Here are six things about uncircumcised penises to know.
But first, check out our video on sex positions for small penises:
1. They Don't Have More Sensitivity Than Circumcised Penises
A new study from Queen's University in Canada found that uncircumcised men do not have more genital sensitivity than circumcised men, as is widely believed. 62 men — both cut and uncut — signed up to have their shafts and heads manhandled for science, and researchers concluded that neither group had a lock on pleasure.
2. They Are More Likely To Transmit STIs
According to multiple studies, the foreskin on uncut guys can be a breeding ground for sexually transmitted infections, including herpes, HPV and HIV. The CDC reports that circumcised men have a 25 percent lower risk of getting genital herpes and a 35 percent lower risk of getting HPV. There's also a 50 percent lower risk of getting HIV from a man with a circumcised penis, Time Magazine reports. That said, cut guys aren't immune, and condoms are still key, no matter what kind of penis your partner has.
3. They Don't Impact Sexual Performance
One analysis of nearly 40 studies about dudes and their penises by an Australian researcher found that whether or not a doctor or cleric removes your foreskin as a child, it has no scientifically discernible impact on a man's ability to become aroused, stay aroused, and go the distance.
4. But They May Impact Your Sexual Pleasure
Discussions of what "feels better" during sex are incredibly subjective, but many report that the foreskin on an uncircumcised penis squeezing up around the shaft feels fantastic when inside a vagina. It's kinda like nature's ribbed dildo, I guess? Either way, it all comes down to how the owner of said penis is using the thing.
5. They're Not "Dirty"
While an uncircumcised penis may take slightly longer to clean than an uncircumcised one, that doesn't mean it is by default "dirty." Seriously, it's a small flap of skin. You don't need industrial strength bleach or anything for an uncircumcised penis be touchable, f*ckable, and/or lovable.
6. They Aren't A Punchline
It should go without saying, BUT in the spirit of body positivity that's uplifting folks of all genders today, let's celebrate penises in their natural state — even if we're not used to seeing them that way. After all, it's a penis, not a punchline, and everybody should be proud of what they've got.
Images: Artur Lebedev/TASS/Getty Images; Giphy (6)
