[ ARC forum 2 ]

Problems and appropriate advice.

Written by Paul B. at 23 Dec 2001 04:58:35:

As an answer to: Re: Problems and appropriate advice. written by Halfclip at 23 Dec 2001 02:45:23:

> Who are you to define what an optimum foreskin is to someone else?

In terms of appearance? I'm not doing that. I'm just saying that I was focussing on the subject of function rather than appearance.

> Let each individual decide what he prefers as optimum foreskin length.

I have no problem with that. But when people desire surgery to alter such things from the normal, I feel, and I think most doctors would concur with me, that they have a distinct (psychological) problem.

> If a person with a long problematic foreskin personally prefers the look of a shorter foreskin
> and is presented with the option to shorter his foreskin to a desired length at the same time
> as removng his phimosis, what is wrong with that ?

Exactly the same thing as if he had not the phimosis. The phimosis is able to be dealt with by alternate means, i.e., stretching, or perhaps a dorsal slit as our friend here, Spyros had, so that's a separate matter. But where the focus is on wanting a shorter foreskin, that's somewhat worthy of concern.

> 18 years after my partial circ, ... my penis is still sensitive to rubbing in underwear
> and I wear underwear that not only reuces rubbing, but also keeps the remaining skin over head.

Would this not count as a disadvantage of partial circumcision? Is this not a problem (which you would not have if you did not have the operation)? I don't follow your argument - how would you expect not to have this problem, other than by leaving your foreskin intact in the first place?

> This is quite the opposite of the anti-circ crowd that claim that the vicinity of a scalpel
> to the foreskin instantly makes your penis numb and insensitive.

Substantial hyperbole here. I grant you that some people exaggerate the reduction of sensitivity, but there are two quite undeniable effects. Circumcision firstly removes a large area of skin which is quite sensitive and contributes to sexual feeling, and interferes with the nerve supply to what foreskin remnant there is between the cut and the penis head. I would certainly not claim that it alters the nerve distribution to the glans itself.

Secondly, the more exposed the glans is, the more it adapts by reducing its sensitivity. You actually confirm this yourself later in this same statement. Following a "complete" circumcision, it is impossible for the glans not to be so affected and you don't in practice, have the option of protecting it as you now do, so it accommodates fully - something you have as you describe, been able to avoid. But the same thing would of course happen with a congenital deficiency of the foreskin.

> A recent study in africa that was AIDS related ... the glans is just as keratizined in the uncircumcised

African studies are interesting, if only for how much they do not tell us about what we should do in the "First World". The reason AIDS is so rampant, circumcision notwithstanding, appears to be that they really do "bang anything that breathes", and yes, I'm sure they are just as keratinised there!

> as a young lad, it hurt like hell to wipe a towel over my glans ... because the glans was so sensitive.

Many people would take that as a strong clue not to do it any more than you stick a towel up your nose, in your mouth or up your bottom.

> But by the time I was 11-12, it became less sensitive and stimulation was no longer painful,

No surprises given that punishment!

> Now, 18 years after a aprtial circ, the glans is just the right sensitivity.

Fine. But as you just said, that is as much due to ageing as the result of the procedure.

So what's the summary? Well, you seem to have an intense concern about the appearance of your foreskin, historically sufficient to have had surgery on it. As far as I can read from your description, any actual problem you had with it was negligible, and you most clearly chose to have cosmetic surgery. I presume therefore, you had some personality problem underlying this fixation, which as you indicate, seems to have settled substantially over the past 18 years to the point that you are comfortable now with your sexuality.

And that's it. I'm not saying you're bad, just that you had a problem at one time and chose a certain action as a result. But it's OK to have problems - we all have them. If I personally don't think your approach was optimum, well, that is indeed up to me because you have worn the consequences. I will however object if in projecting your problem onto others, you advise them to do something out of proportion to their particular circumstance.


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