Foreskin functions

[Speedy]

It's easy to laugh off an obvious gag on a site as a means by which to ignore the rest so I thought I would create a list here of why foreskins are useful, necessary body parts and not just a useless flap of skin. Feel free to add your own or anything else you come across in your research :)

Foreskins have:


Tens of thousands of nerve endings. In the foreskin itself! It is sensitive and forms a part of the male sexual experience in intact men.
Those nerve endings include a whole lot of sensitive stretch receptors - as the foreskin moves, it reports a whole lot of positional detail. That's completely different extra kind of sensation. Just stretching the foreskin is pleasurable to the man in a way that stroking isn't.
Frictionless gliding mechanism. The foreskin isn't just a "piece of skin", it's a toroidal linear bearing - a specific thing with a function: it provides completely frictionless movement, far superior to any amount of lubrication.
The frenulum is known by some as the 'male clitoris', and is exquisitely sensitive. Even if it's preserved (it usually isn't), one of the things it's most sensitive to is stretching as the foreskin retracts. No foreskin, no stretching, and you've just lost a vast amount of sexual pleasure.
The foreskin protects and moisturises the surface of the glans (which is an internal organ, and does not have skin), keeping it sensitive and supple. Men undergoing foreskin restoration report that the difference in sensation is akin to the difference between wearing a condom and going bareback.

All jokes aside, all funny tricks aside, the male foreskin is an awesome thing. Every bit as awesome as my clitoral hood - and I am extremely grateful that I still have my hood as my husband is grateful that he has his foreskin.

[headoverfeet]

Thanks for advocating for those that can't speak for themselves :goodvibes:

[Lovemyfam]

1. Full penis length and circumference. The "prepuce" (foreskin) constitutes 50% or more of the skin system of the penis [1]. If unfolded and spread flat, the average adult foreskin measures 60-90 square centimeters (10-14 square inches) [2], or about the size of an index card [see illustration (http://www.noharmm.org/snip.htm)]. The foreskin creates a visibly longer penis, especially when the foreskin extends beyond the head of the penis. Also, the double-layered tissue of the foreskin engorges with blood during erection and creates a visibly and sensually thicker shaft and glans.When the engorged foreskin retracts behind the coronal ridge of the glans, it often creates a wider and more pronounced "ridge" that many partners find especially stimulating during penetrative intercourse. The circumcised penis appears truncated and thinner than a full-sized intact penis.

2. Protection. The sleeve of tissue known as the foreskin normally covers the glans and protects it from abrasion, drying, callusing (keratinization), and environmental contaminants. The glans is intended by nature to be a protected internal organ, like the female clitoris [see illustration (http://www.noharmm.org/anatsim.htm)]. The effect of an exposed glans and resulting keratinization on human sexual response has never been studied. Increasing reports by circumcised men indicate that keratinization causes a loss of sexual sensation, pleasure and fulfillment [3, 4].

3. Ridged bands. The inner foreskin contains bands of densely innervated, sexually responsive tissue [1]. They constitute a primary erogenous zone of the human penis and are important for realizing the fullness and intensity of sexual response [5].

4. Gliding action. The foreskin is the only moving part of the penis. During any sexual activity, the foreskin and glans work in unison; their mutual interaction (http://www.noharmm.org/anatomy.htm) creates a complete sexual response. In heterosexual intercourse, the non-abrasive gliding of the penis in and out of itself within the vagina facilitates smooth and pleasurable intercourse for both partners [http://www.noharmm.org/images/Blue_ArrowD096.gifsee illustration (http://www.cirp.org/pages/anat)]. Without this gliding action, the corona of the circumcised penis can function as a one-way valve, dragging vaginal lubricants out into the drying air and making artificial lubricants essential for non-painful intercourse [6].

5. Specialized sensory tissue. In addition to the "ridged bands" mentioned above, thousands of coiled fine-touch receptors (Meissner’s corpuscles) constitute the most important sensory component of the penis [1]. The foreskin contains branches of the dorsal nerve and between 10,000 and 20,000 specialized erotogenic nerve endings of several types, which are capable of sensing slight motion and stretch, subtle changes in temperature, and fine gradations in texture [7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12].

6. The frenulum. This is a highly nerve-laden web of tissue that tethers the inner foreskin to the underside of the glans [see photo (http://www.noharmm.org/anatomy.htm)]. It is similar to the frenula found under the tongue, the upper lip and the clitoral hood (female foreskin). For many intact men, the penile frenulum is a male "G-spot" that is highly pleasurable when repeatedly stretched and relaxed during sexual activity [13]. Depending on the surgical method used, the frenulum is partially to completely destroyed by circumcision.

7. Proper blood flow. The foreskin contains several feet of blood vessels, including the frenular artery and branches of the dorsal artery. The loss of this rich vascularization interrupts normal blood flow to the shaft and glans of the penis, damaging the natural function of the penis and altering its development [1].

8. Immunological defense. The soft mucosa of the inner foreskin produces plasma cells, which secrete immunoglobulin antibodies, and antibacterial and antiviral proteins [7, 14], such as the pathogen-killing enzyme called lysozyme [15 and http://www.noharmm.org/images/Blue_ArrowD096.gifsee explanation (http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/HIV/)]. All of the human mucosa (the linings of the mouth, eyelids, vagina, foreskin and anus) are the body's first line of defense against disease. This benefit of the foreskin could be one possible explanation why intact men are at lower risk of chlamydia and other sexually transmitted diseases[16-21].

9. Langerhans cells. These specialized epithelial cells are a component of the immune system and may play a role in protecting the penis from sexually transmitted infections such as HIV (AIDS) [http://www.noharmm.org/images/Blue_ArrowD096.gifsee explanation (http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/HIV/) and 14-16, 18].

10. Proper lymph flow. The foreskin contains lymphatic vessels, which are necessary for proper lymph flow and immunological functioning.

11. Estrogen receptors. The foreskin contains estrogen receptors, whose purpose is not yet fully understood and needs further study [22].

12. Apocrine glands. These glands produce pheromones, nature’s invisible yet compelling signals to potential sexual partners. The effect of their absence on human sexual behavior has never been studied [23].

13. Sebaceous glands. The oils produced by these glands lubricate and moisturize the foreskin and glans, so that the two structures function together smoothly.

14. Dartos fascia. This is a smooth muscle sheath that underlies the scrotum, the entire penis and the tip of the foreskin. It is necessary for proper temperature regulation of the genitals (causing these structures to elongate in the heat and shrink in the cold). Approximately half of the Dartos fascia is destroyed by circumcision [7].

15. Natural texture and coloration of the glans. In the intact penis, the glans normally appears moist, shiney, and pinkish-red to dark purple. These visual cues often attract and excite a sexual partner. The glans of a circumcised penis is dry, rough and often light pink to bluish-gray in color [see photos (http://www.noharmm.org/IDcirc.htm)].

16. Zero risk of serious infection or surgical injury. Unfortunate boys who suffer botched circumcisions lose part or all of their penis from surgical mishap or subsequent infection. They are often "sexually reassigned" (http://www.noharmm.org/canadianboy.htm) by castration and "transgender surgery." They are relegated to a life of hormone therapy and are compelled to live their lives as pseudo-females, the success of which has never been fully assessed [24-46].

17. Zero risk of death from surgery. Every year boy die from the complications of circumcision, a fact that the American circumcision industry ignores, obscures, or downplays [29-31].

18. Zero risk of delayed or diminished maternal bonding. Circumcision, even if anesthesia is used, causes unavoidable operative trauma and post-operative pain that has been shown to disrupt bonding with the mother, which in turn interferes with the first developmental task of every human, that of trust (trust in human contact, in personal safety, etc) [47-51].

19. Electromagnetic "cross-communication." Anecdotal reports suggest that, without the mucosa of its foreskin, the penis lacks the capacity for the subtle electromagentic energy transfer that occurs during contact between two mucous membranes (the vaginal walls and the exposed inner lining of the foreskin). Such contact contributes to the full experience of sexual pleasure. These reports deserve further scientific study.

20. The foreskin is necessary for optimal health and well-being of the male, as well as contributing to fulfillment in his sexual relationships.

[share a book]

Thankyou :)

[misskittyfantastico]

I[SIZE=2][FONT=arial]ntact penises are more attractive then cut ones :)


I'm sorry, but I think that's a rubbish reason to advocate leaving infants intact.
Circ can be medically necessary and no mother wants to think that her beautiful son (intact or not) is being judged over the prettiness of his penis. I think it's really shallow to even mention it.

[Lovemyfam]

I'm sorry, but I think that's a rubbish reason to advocate leaving infants intact.
Circ can be medically necessary and no mother wants to think that her beautiful son (intact or not) is being judged over the prettiness of his penis. I think it's really shallow to even mention it.

I didnt mean that was a reason to leave them intact just like that is no reason to remove sorry was a little joke because many people do circ for visual reasons.

[misskittyfantastico]

I didnt mean that was a reason to leave them intact just like that is no reason to remove sorry was a little joke because many people do circ for visual reasons.

I know what you meant, but as a mother of intact sons, it's hurtful (and weird) to hear other women comment negatively on the aesthetics of an intact penis, I don't want mothers of circ'd sons to feel the same way - I don't want this thread to stoop to the same level of it's counterpart in jest or otherwise.

Hope that makes sense.

[Lovemyfam]

:yes: your right I edited it thanks for pointing that out wasnt thinking

[Speedy]

The foreskin, in the words of an intact man:


Take a stretchy satin shirt, with the sleeves too long, about a hand-length past your fingertips. Put it on, turn the end of the sleeve in on itself, and glue the cuff to your watch strap. You now have a functional model of an intact penis. Your hand is the glans, the sleeve is the foreskin, your arm is the shaft. Now grasp your sleeve, and extend your arm to look at your watch. The fabric rolls over your hand - it doesn't slide. There's no friction against your hand at all, because nothing slides over it.

Or take a pinch of eyelid/elbow/scrotum skin, and rub between thumb and finger. Again, no friction on your finger pads whatsoever, despite a firm grip. This is what we experience. We don't need lube to masturbate, because we have something far better built-in.

[misskittyfantastico]

Yes! The lube! Or lack of needed to m.asturbate an intact penis.

[Speedy]

Which is a pleasant thing for a woman having sex with an intact man - no lube, no friction, no pain if you have a small vagina.

[share a book]

The foreskin, in the words of an intact man:

It's nice to hear males advocating for males :)

[Speedy]

Because I honestly believe that the decision to surgically modify a child is not a laughing matter, because I believe the pain of infants isn't fodder for would-be comedians, I am going to seriously address some of the points that I made earlier and may not have been clear enough about. My apologies to anyone that misunderstood my post.

When I mentioned that the foreskin has "tens of thousands of nerve endings", I was talking about volume of sensation, which is not the same as sensitivity. As an example, would you prefer to eat with only half of your tongue being able to appreciate flavour? Removing the foreskin entails a significant loss of quantity of sensation

Regarding stretch receptors, the sense of movement is greatly enhanced, making even tiny movements feel like significant thrusting. This isn't a detailed report to the brain but a raw primal sexual sensation. Sexual pleasure.

Stretching the foreskin is pleasurable because, as mentioned before small movements lead to a significant amount of sensation - akin to, for instance, the sensation from your lips being moved/nibbled/etc while kissing.

"Frictionless gliding mechanism" refers to the complete lack of friction against the glans as the foreskin moves over it, because the skin rolls over it instead of sliding. Take a pinch of eyelid or elbow skin between thumb and finger, and rub. There's zero friction against your fingerpads, because
nothing is sliding across them - the movement is between the internal surfaces of the skin, not between fingerpad and eyelid/elbow.

Frenulum stretching may not be pleasurable for a circumcised man as it is not often preserved and half of it may well be gone. If it is there, it is no longer connecting the glans and the foreskin so there is nothing to stretch, no pleasure to be had. Which is kind of the whole point for keeping a man intact - intact ones actually work as there is, again, a lot of sensation from even very small movements.

The surface of the glans isn't actually skin. Kept protected from wear and tear from rubbing against clothes/etc on a daily basis, it's soft, supple and highly responsive to touch - unlike the leathery. tough surface that develops over time without a foreskin to cover it.

I hope that clarifies my earlier post.