4 Guys Get Real About Being Uncircumcised

While it’s commonly believed that a majority of American men might be circumcised, the gap between uncircumcised men and circumcised men is smaller than you’d think. In fact, a 2010 CDC study showed that in 2007, 55.4% of newborn male babies left the hospital circumcised — a 10% difference than in 1979 when that percentage was 64.9%. But why is foreskin still so stigmatized? Here, four anonymous men explain what it’s really like to be uncircumcised.

How old are you?

Man A: Twenty-six.

Man B: Thirty-five.

Man C: Thirty-one.

Man D: Twenty-six.

Were you born in the US?

Man A: Yes, in Seattle.

Man B: Yes.

Man C: Yes, in the Midwest. However, I am a first generation American with European parents.

Man D: Yes, I was born in San Francisco and grew up in Berkeley California — ironically my parents are Jewish.

In general, how do you feel about being uncircumcised?

Man A: I’m grateful that my parents made the decision not to carry out an irreversible surgery on my favorite appendage. A lot of circumcised men reading this can probably feel the blood rushing to their head, but understand that it’s my opinion. I don’t judge any man for the cut of his baloney, so don’t judge me.

Man B: I don't feel really anything about it. It's something I never even consider as an adult.

Man C: Very positive. I've never really had any misgivings or concerns about it. I've never felt embarrassed or ‘other.’ It doesn't often come up in conversation, but when it has even other guys haven't had much to say beyond ‘Oh, that's weird.’ But for me, it's not weird, it's normal.

Man D: Honestly it's not something you think about day to day or at all until someone brings it up. My parents never made the decision to snip and I feel like it’s been a blessing because i have more sensitivity down there.

How do you think sex might be different if you were circumcised?

Man A: It’s impossible to tell! But I imagine I would lose sensitivity, need additional “lubrication,” and not enjoy head as much. But I’d like to hear the perspective of a man who got circumcised in adulthood.

Man B: I would probably not feel as good. Circumcised men have less sensitivity then uncircumcised men.

Man C: It's hard to imagine how it would be better. There are a lot of nerve endings in the foreskin, so [I have] a lot of sensation. I feel like I'd be missing out on something if I were circumcised.

Man D: From what I hear, one doesn't have the sensory endings once the skin is snipped, so I guess I might not feel as much. Another aspect I hear is that it feels better for the girl when the guy is uncircumcised, so maybe girls wouldn't enjoy it as much. With all this said however, I do remember from sex-ed, that the brain is the most important aspect of sex — so I keep that in mind as well!

How do your partners usually react when they find out you’re uncircumcised?

Man A: Mild surprise. Most don’t notice right away because we’re busy doing other stuff, and I’ve had a few partners say it “feels better.”

Man B: Honestly no one has ever said anything about it during or after. Some women I've been with were surprised when I said I was.

Man C: Fortunately, I haven't had any negative reactions. Most have either been neutral or excited.

Man D: There has never been any shock value or hesitation once they find out — and to be perfectly honest, I don’t have a lot of extra skin down there, so it’s "neat" in that sense. Also I have never prefaced any sexual interaction with a heads up about being not being circumcised — there's other stuff to worry about.

What’s the best reaction you’ve ever gotten from a partner about being uncircumcised?

Man A: She compared it to that acid spitting dino from Jurassic Park.

Man B: After months of sleeping together, I mentioned in passing to a woman that my aim is bad when I pee because of being uncut. She literally didn't believe me, and told me to drop my pants and show her. We had been intimate many times, but she had no idea.

Man C: Probably from my current partner who actually prefers uncircumcised [guys]. She was pleasantly surprised when she found out, so that was definitely something that reinforced my feeling that there's nothing to be embarrassed about. In fact, she's even brought it up a few times over the years that she's glad about it.

Man D: I guess there have been a couple double takes here and there like - Oh, well this looks different — but at that point you’re too enthralled to care.

In the US, circumcision rates are declining, but it’s still fairly prevalent. Given that most guys here are circumcised, have you ever had a partner react negatively or surprised?

Man A: A couple have been surprised because it’s a first time for them, but I’ve never had a negative reaction. Period. Pro-tip: ALL penises look weird!

Man B: Never, not once. I had partners balk at the idea of being with an uncircumcised while joking around in a social setting only to find out that she had been with me multiple times and just didn't know

Man C: Surprised, sure. It is unusual in a statistical sense. But luckily I've never had a partner scoff or turn me down because of it.

Man D: Never negatively, but surprised, yes.

Have you ever considered adult circumcision?

Man A: Only when I was younger and more self-conscious.

Man B: No, I have wondered if it was a thing, but I love being uncircumcised, it's how men are naturally. Plus my family is from Europe so it's part of the culture I am from, so I would never think of changing that.

Man C: No. Absolutely not. I can't see any possible upside to it.

Man D: No way. Absolutely not.

If you have sons, would you want to circumcise them?

Man A: Absolutely not. I don't make choices based on what everyone else does. This isn’t just like snipping the umbilical cord—you’re cutting living flesh off.

Man B: No, why put them through that. It's archaic and probably extremely painful for a little kid to go through, it's literally genital mutilation.

Man C: No. My partner and I are fortunately on the same page about this. We see no reason to make such an irreversible decision for a child —especially when I don't see any benefits.

Man D: No, they can make the decision if they want later in life. It just seems unnecessary.

What advice do you have for a woman who has started hooking up with an uncircumcised guy for the first time?

Man A: Don’t make fun of him or make him feel weird for being uncircumcised. You can comment on it, but know that it’s perfectly natural.

Man B: Enjoy yourself and try not to dwell on it. Odds are good that you may have even already slept with an uncut guy and not even have known.

Man C: Once erect, it's essentially the same; it just looks slightly different. It works the same way, does all the same things, and I'd assume feels about the same. There's really no reason to think sex will be much different or even different at all just because someone is or isn't circumcised. And who knows, maybe it does feel better for the woman as well, but you'll never know until you try it.

Man D: Make sure they clean their junk and peel back the extra skin while doing so — seriously, it can get gross down there.

 

What’s a misconception that you want to clear up about being uncircumcised?

Man A: There’s a lot of miseducation around this subject. I would encourage any expecting parents to do their research. Circumcision is primarily a cultural practice—most people do it because it’s so engrained in society. Also, I don’t care what your dick looks like: if you don’t clean it, you’re nasty.

Man B: That there's a difference, or that somehow they are less clean. Unclean penises are attached to unclean guys, cut or not.

Man C: I always read articles that suggest an uncircumcised guy has to be extra diligent about cleaning himself to avoid infection and I just think, ‘Wait, do circumcised guys not clean their junk when they shower?’ I've never had any issues with cleanliness because I wash my whole body when I bathe. I don't know how other men go about showering, but for me that includes my penis. I'm not sure where this myth about foreskins getting extra dirty comes from, but it definitely has not been my experience.

Man D: I didn't realize there were misconceptions out there about being uncircumcised...time to see what the internet has to say...

What do you want Cosmo readers to know about dating someone who is uncircumcised?

Man A: He doesn’t think it’s a big deal, so don’t treat it as such. He might be passionate about the subject—it was definitely a sensitive topic for me at one point. But really, a penis is a penis.

Man B: Whether he's cut or not, showing that you appreciate him exactly as he is, is always good.

Man C: I'd just want them to know that there's nothing weird or unusual about someone whose parents decided not to snip off a piece of skin. There's really nothing different or special or difficult about handling an uncircumcised penis. And if it was truly better to be circumcised, you'd probably see and hear a whole lot about guys going under the knife as adults.

Man D: We are humans too! Honestly it's so, so, so insignificant to dating and relationships that it shouldn't be in the wheelhouse of making a yes or no decision to date someone.

Answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

This post was originally published in February 2017 and has been updated.