Circles of Sexual Health & Reproduction and Sensuality

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The Circles of Sexuality, developed by Dennis Dailey in 1981, is a holistic framework for understanding the complexities of human sexuality. It consists of five interconnected circles, all impacted by our values. Over the next posts, we will focus on each circle and how circumcision could impact these components. This post will focus of sexual health and reproduction, and sensuality.

A general overview: https://healthymen.net/blog/male-circumcision-sexuality/

Male circumcision is a practice that has been surrounded by a variety of beliefs and cultural narratives for centuries. Understanding the effects of male circumcision on sexuality is crucial for both individuals and couples navigating their sexual health. This article will explore the myths and realities surrounding male circumcision, its impact on sexual health, intimacy, and the cultural perceptions that shape these discussions.

1. Circle of Sexual Health & Reproduction:

Focuses on the importance of sexual health and reproductive rights. Here are some links that reference circumcision as related to sexual health and reproduction.

https://www.healthline.com/health/mens-health/circumcised-vs-uncircumcised#lubrication

The main difference between a circumcised (cut) and uncircumcised (uncut) penis is the presence of foreskin around the head of the penis. Both options can affect hygiene and overall health.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41443-020-00354-y

Male circumcision (MC) is the first planned surgical procedure ever performed. Nowadays many of these procedures are not necessarily carried out in a medical environment, therefore the real number remains unknown, but it is estimated that one third of the men are circumcised. Some authors argue the negative impact of MC on men psychology and sexual life, but objective data are lacking. The purpose of this review is to summarize in the best possible way the literature to clarify this matter. A non-systematic narrative review was performed including articles between 1986 and 2019. The search for literature was carried out between July 2019 to October 2019 and any updates as of March 30, 2020. Although many authors support the hypothesis that circumcision status has an impact on sexual functioning, a negative outcome has not yet been entirely proven. Circumcision might affect how men perceive their body image and consequently affect their sexual life. We should consider this when analysing the literature about MC and sexual dysfunction, as many of the results are based on specific populations with different attitudes towards this procedure.

Sexual function consists of many elements that not only relate to measurable facts such as anatomy, somatosensory and histology. An objective evaluation of the impact of circumcision on sexuality is still challenging, as it affects a wide variety of people that confront sexuality differently due to their sociocultural and historical background. Therefore, individuals can either perceive their circumcision status as a blessing or a curse depending on the values and preferences of the different communities or social environments where they belong.

https://academic.oup.com/smr/article-abstract/11/4/412/7135857

Despite the conflicting data reported in articles, the weight of the scientific evidence suggests there is not sufficient data to establish a direct association between male circumcision and sexual dysfunction. This review provides clinicians with an updated summary of the best available evidence on male circumcision and sexual dysfunction for evidenced-based quality of care and patient education.

2. Circle of Sensuality:

The appreciation and enjoyment of physical sensations and experiences. Here are some links that reference circumcision as related to sensuality.

• https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=circumcision+and+sexuality&mid=60967181EA9B1B9D653760967181EA9B1B9D6537&mmscn=stvo&FORM=VIRE
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/all-about-sex/202311/does-circumcision-impair-mens-sexualsensitivity?msockid=3b1d5105692f6e60345f440d68b26f41

Circumcision, the surgical removal of the foreskin tissue that covers the head (glans) of the penis, elicits strong emotions. Whenever I’ve discussed the robust literature showing that it causes men no sexual harm, the feedback—overwhelmingly from opponents—has been vitriolic, even threatening.

Opponents argue that the foreskin is rich in touch-sensitive nerves, and therefore, circumcision must reduce the penis’ sexual sensitivity, impairing erotic function, orgasm, and satisfaction. Proponents counter that circumcision has no measurable impact on men’s sexuality and that it offers important medical benefits, notably reduced risk of AIDS and several sexually transmitted vaginal infections. Recently, two studies have added to the substantial literature showing that circumcision does not impair men’s sexual pleasure.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17155977/

There were no significant differences in sexual drive, erection, ejaculation, and ejaculation latency time between circumcised and uncircumcised men. Masturbatory pleasure decreased after circumcision in 48% of the respondents, while 8% reported increased pleasure. Masturbatory difficulty increased after circumcision in 63% of the respondents but was easier in 37%. About 6% answered that their sex lives improved, while 20% reported a worse sex life after circumcision.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-023-02543-4

Research exploring the impact of penile circumcision on aspects of body image is scarce and few studies have considered the potential roles of attitudinal factors toward one’s own circumcision status. The purpose of the present study was to assess the potential relationship between one’s circumcision status, happiness with circumcision status, genital self-image, and sexual functioning. The present study also examined how happiness with circumcision status varied across geographic regions. A total of 205 participants (102 circumcised, 103 not circumcised) completed a study through online recruitment methods. Participants reported being born in the United States (n = 80), Canada (n = 23), and various countries within Latin America (n = 22), Europe (n = 49), Asia (n = 13), Africa (n = 11), and Oceania (n = 7). Participants who were not circumcised reported significantly greater happiness with their circumcision status than participants who were circumcised. However, genital self-image, sexual body image, and sexual functioning did not significantly differ by circumcision status. Instead, participants who reported being happier with their circumcision status reported better genital self-image and less body exposure avoidance during sex, but sexual function did not differ by happiness. Although researchers hypothesized that happiness with circumcision status would depend on whether one fits in with the majority circumcision status within their region of origin, results did not support this. Participants who were circumcised tended to have less happiness with their circumcision status than non-circumcised participants regardless of region of birth. These findings support a small body of the literature which suggests that the psychosexual impact of penile circumcision may rely more on attitudinal factors toward circumcision status than actual circumcision status.

Conclusion: There was a decrease in masturbatory pleasure and sexual enjoyment after circumcision, indicating that adult circumcision adversely affects sexual function in many men, possibly because of complications of the surgery and a loss of nerve endings.

Join the conversation with other boys and young men by linking in at

These posts are to give you information that we feel you need to participate in the decision on circumcision. Most decisions are
made by our parents, so perhaps you need to share these posts with them as well.

As a reminder, let’s review again what consent is. The dictionary has a simple definition, “permission for something to happen or agreement to do something”. Consent implies that you have full information about what you are consenting to. What does that mean for whether you consented to be circumcised?

• Consent is freely given. There is no pressure or manipulation, including bullying or other criticism for the choice.
• It is reversible. Someone should be able to change their minds at any time. Even if they said yes early on, they could say no
  after that, even if they are on the table for the procedure, they can still say no.
• Consent is wanting to do it. It is doing only those things that someone feels comfortable doing. They should not be
  expected to do things they don’t want to do.
• Consent is specific. If someone says yes to circumcision, this does not mean they are saying yes to how the circumcision is
  being done.
• It is informed. Someone cannot actively and freely agree if they don’t have the full information.
  Our next post is about two more of the circles of sexuality: Intimacy and Sexual Health & Gender Identity.

The role of health and hygiene

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These posts are about circumcision and the common reasons given for circumcision around the world. These include cultural rites of passage for young adolescent boys, the need for hygiene, the ability to have sex, and religion. Ultimately, we want to focus on the context of consent, and if boys really do have that right.

In the previous blog I focused on religion. While Islam and Judaism do practice circumcision, most Christians do not get circumcised for religious beliefs, although strong religious history could be a reason for why it continues despite moving to other stated reasons, such as health and hygiene.

From the surveys received thus far, the biggest reason given for circumcision is health and hygiene. Let’s look at the most common health issues and how prevalent they really are. To complete the survey, click this link https://bit.ly/4jIdjBc or scan QR code

Size and shape of your penis. What I often hear is the belief that not being circumcised, or circumcised at the wrong age, would or could affect the size or shape of the penis. To learn more: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/types-of-penises#base-head-ratio

Recurrent balanitis – Balanitis is soreness and redness in the head of your penis. It can make you uncomfortable in one of the most sensitive areas: the head of your penis, as well as the loose flap of skin that covers the tip if you haven’t been circumcised. It can be treated, and it’s often easy to prevent.

You can get balanitis at any age, but it’s most common in children under the age of 4, whether circumcised or not. Anyone can get it, but you have a higher risk of balanitis if you haven’t been circumcised and don’t clean your foreskin thoroughly. Diabetes also raises your risk of balanitis.  https://www.webmd.com/men/penis-disorder-balanitis

PLEASE NOTE that balanitis is most common among very young children. In adults, preventing balanitis appears as simple as keeping your penis and foreskin clean.

Uncircumcised men with poor personal hygiene are most affected by balanitis. The incidence is believed to affect 0.5% of boys by their 15th birthday.
https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/patient-information/balanitis-xerotica-obliterans-bxo-in-boys-information-for-parents-and-carers/#section-3

Phimosis is a condition where the foreskin cannot be retracted (pulled back) from the head of the penis. It can occur in both children and adults, particularly in those who are uncircumcised. Symptoms may include difficulty urinating or ballooning of the foreskin during urination. Treatment options vary and may include topical steroid creams, stretching exercises, or in some cases, surgical intervention.

Nearly all baby boys have physiological phimosis. As newborns age, their foreskin changes gradually so it can pull back. Medical professionals estimate only about 1% of males still have physiologic phimosis when they’re 16 or older.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22065-phimosis

Paraphimosis is a painful condition where the foreskin becomes trapped behind the head (glans) of the penis, making it impossible to return to its normal position. This condition can lead to vascular engorgement and swelling of the glans, potentially cutting off blood circulation. It typically develops when the foreskin is retracted and left in that position for an extended period, resulting in congestion and difficulty in repositioning the foreskin. Paraphimosis is considered a medical emergency that requires prompt evaluation and treatment to prevent complications.

Paraphimosis is rare. About 0.2% of uncircumcised children between 4 months and 12 years old will have paraphimosis.

Balanitis Xerotica Obliterans (BXO) is a rare, chronic inflammatory condition that affects the head of the penis and the foreskin. It can cause scarring and narrowing of the urethra, leading to difficulties with urination and sexual activity.
https://www.dovemed.com/health-topics/focused-health-topics/balanitis-xerotica-obliterans-causes-symptoms-diagnosis-and-treatment

HIV transmission Circumcision has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV transmission. Specifically, male circumcision can lower the risk of HIV-1 infection in heterosexual men by approximately 60%. This protective effect is particularly significant in high-risk populations, where circumcision reduces the transmission of HIV from HIV-positive women to men. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends voluntary medical male circumcision as an effective strategy to reduce the risk of HIV infection during heterosexual exposure. However, the effectiveness may vary, as circumcision may not significantly reduce HIV transmission risk for men who have sex with men.
https://aidsrestherapy.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12981-017-0167-6

Penile cancer Some studies suggest that circumcision might prevent penile cancer. However, this is unverified, and more research is needed. Penile cancer is rare in the United States. It typically only affects 1 in every 100,000 people with a penis. Most types of penile cancers begin in the skin cells of the penis. https://www.roswellpark.org/cancertalk/201708/does-circumcision-prevent-cancer

What is the message? Many of the problems occur during young childhood, which means circumcision at birth is the best way to avoid these. Otherwise, the best way to keep your penis healthy is with soap and water. The best way to avoid HIV is to limit the number of your partners. https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Your-Penis

What are the thoughts of doctors in the Philippines? Reynaldo O. Joson, MD, MHA, MHPEd, MScSurg, Education for Health Development in the Philippines says NO to Routine Circumcision in the Philippines https://xtulepinoy.wordpress.com/

Have these links helped in your search for information about circumcision?
Remember consent …

• Consent is informed. Someone cannot actively and freely agree if they don’t have the full information.
• Consent is freely given. There is no pressure or manipulation, including bullying or other criticism for the choice.
• Consent is reversible. Somone should be able to change their minds at any time. Even if they said yes early on, they could say no after that, even if they are on the table for the procedure, they can still say no.
• Consent is wanting to do it. It is doing only those things that someone feels comfortable doing. They should not be expected to do things they don’t want to do.
• Consent is specific. If someone says yes to circumcision, this does not mean they are saying yes to how the circumcision is being done.

To help in your own understanding of the reasons for circumcision that are about health and hygiene, talk with your parents, especially your father, and with your doctor, highlighting some of the information from this posting. In our next post we will talk about the reasons given related to sex and sexuality.

The role of religion

IF YOU ARE A FILIPINO ADULT MALE, please share your experience with circumcision.

https://forms.gle/CpKFLNE1uZSWBJPe8

Circumcision and child sexual abuse are not directly related. However, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse (CPTCSA) has an interest in how circumcisions are conducted when it is done during early pubescence for two reasons. First, because more young boys are sexually abused than girls in the Philippines, and second, because the penis plays an important part in sex and sexuality, and thus its abuse.

In our previous post we referred to the common reasons given for circumcision around the world. These include cultural rites of passage for young adolescent boys, to the need for hygiene, to ability to have sex, and religion. Ultimately, we want to focus on the context of consent, and if boys really are given that right of consent. In this post we will talk a little about the role of religion in the practice of circumcision.

Let’s begin the process of giving consent with the context of full information about circumcision and the role that religion plays. While we don’t know everything that you might want to know, we can begin by giving you some links and hope that this leads to further links to help lead you to consent or decline to be circumcised, with a focus on religion and faith.

To begin, here is a brief outline from Jacqueline Smith: Male Circumcision and the Rights of the Child https://cirp.org/library/legal/smith/

In the Jewish community circumcision (brit milah) is a religious ritual and is usually performed on the child’s eight day of life by a Mohel. The rite of circumcision is one of the most ancient practices of Judaism. The commandment to circumcise male children was given to Abraham in the Torah (Genesis 17:7-14). Circumcision is (in general) a common denominator among movements: Reform, Conservative, Re-constructionist, Orthodox, all circumcise their male children and require male converts to undergo some form of circumcision. Anaesthetic is not used.

In the United States, the Jewish community has begun to question the practice, using arguments based on the religion. For instance, according to Jewish law, it is forbidden to hurt living things. Even the necessary causing of pain is considered cruel in Judaism. Also the fact that circumcision involves the surgical alteration of a perfectly natural God’s given part of the body, which stems from Jewish thought plays a role. The opinions range from supporting the view that a carefully considered decision against circumcision can be reconciled within Jewish tradition to the statement that the ritual of circumcision is one of the mistakes Judaism carries within it and should be considered not differently from the way they are considered by society in general, no matter how centrally important they seem to Jewish culture. Bringing a Jewish boy into the covenant symbolically in a ceremony officiated by a rabbi is an alternative proposed by some authors.

Religious circumcision is also practised by Muslims: the procedure is performed between the ages of four and 13 years. Curiously, however, the Koran contains no specific ordinance on this subject. However, according to the Sunnah (sayings and practices of the Prophet) circumcision is a sunnah for men and excision an honour for women. In the literature, also medical reasons are mentioned (removal of the prepuce under which impurities may gather and allow germs to spread and cause infection), and historic, pragmatic reasons. Also, within the Islamic doctrine, arguments against circumcision can be found, either based on the Koran itself, or on the Sunnah. However, these arguments are, to my knowledge, only used against female genital mutilation.

Within Christianity, male circumcision has no religious significance. Other religions and cultures practice male circumcision especially as a requirement for manhood within certain puberty rites.

Let’s talk more about circumcision in Christianity because of the high percentage of Christians/Catholics in the Philippines.

Speculation is that circumcision came to the Philippines both from the Islamic and Catholic beliefs. For many Christians, circumcision remains common because of the historical connection of both Christianity and Islam to Judaism. The circumcision of Jesus is celebrated as a feast day in the liturgical calendar of many Christian denominations. Jesus, after all, was Jewish and Jesus was circumcised.

In the Gospel, however, in the early days of Christianity, St. Paul asserted that physical circumcision was unnecessary for the salvation of Gentiles and their membership in the New Covenant. As St. Paul and other disciples spread the Christian Gospel around the world into cultures that did not circumcise their boys, they were left with the difficult question about if such men could convert. Some adult men did wish to be circumcised. But ultimately, St. Paul underscored the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice and the transformative power of faith, rendering physical circumcision unnecessary for salvation. The first Council of Jerusalem declared that circumcision was not necessary for new Gentile converts (as recorded in Acts 15). Covenant theology largely views the Christian sacrament of baptism as fulfilling the Jewish practice of circumcision, as both serve as signs and seals of the covenant of grace.

While historically circumcision is not observed by the majority of Christians in most parts of the Christian world, and mainstream Christian denominations neither require it for religious observance nor forbid it for medical or cultural reasons, it is practiced among some Christian countries and communities; about half of Christian males worldwide are circumcised, with most of them being located in Africa, Anglosphere countries (with notable prevalence in the United States), and the Philippines.

Before reading the 2 links below, I want to remind you about consent. In Acts15, you can read about the beginning of the conflict when some converted men did agree to be circumcised but many others did not, which began the debate among the early disciples. Those men who agreed to be circumcised to follow Jesus did indeed consent, in fact requested, circumcision. These adult men understood what the procedure entailed. They embraced the rationale. They consented.

You can go to Wikipedia for some quick answers: https://w.wiki/ERTX

If you are interested, here is something else to read and consider https://www.catholicsagainstcircumcision.org/the-morality-of-circumcision/

”What is the morality of circumcision? The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that amputations and mutilations performed on innocent people without strictly therapeutic reasons are against the moral law. Pope Pius XII taught that circumcision is morally permissible if it prevents a disease that cannot be countered any other way. In spite of these and other church statements against circumcision through the centuries, I’m told there is no strict Catholic rule against the practice today… [even though] no medical association in the world today any longer says circumcision is therapeutic.”

Here is a link for Evangelical Protestants https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/44086/what-does-colossians-211-mean-in-light-of-evangelical-protestant-soteriology

When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision–the cutting away of your sinful nature. Colossians 2:11 (NLT)

To help in your own understanding of the religious practice of male circumcision, talk with your parents, especially your father. And talk with your religious leader. In our next post we will talk about the non-religious reasons for circumcision.

Circumcision and child sexual abuse are not directly related. However, CPTCSA has an interest in how circumcision is conducted when it is done publicly during early pubescence for two reasons. First, because more young boys are sexually abused than girls in the Philippines, and second, because the penis plays an important part in sex and sexuality, and thus its abuse.

What all cultures appear to have in common, however, is that boys don’t really have a choice. As infants, the choice is with their parents. As teens, the choice is based on rationale stated as fact that limit real ability at consent. For example, the most common rationales for male circumcision include religion, hygiene, relationship to sexuality, and culture/tradition.

Over the next posts, we will look at why parents choose circumcision for their sons and why culture imposes this on their teenage boys. But first, let’s talk about consent, because ultimately whether you are circumcised or not is not the issue; the issue is whether you gave consent.

Let’s look closely at what consent is. The dictionary has a simple definition, “permission for something to happen or agreement to do something”. Consent implies that you have full information about what you are consenting to. What does that mean for whether you consented to be circumcised?

• Consent is freely given. There is no pressure or manipulation, including bullying or other criticism for the choice.
• It is reversible. Someone should be able to change their minds at any time. Even if they said yes early on, they could say no after that, even if they are on the table for the procedure, they can still say no.
• Consent is wanting to do it. It is doing only those things that someone feels comfortable doing. They should not be expected to do things they don’t want to do.
• Consent is specific. If someone says yes to circumcision, this does not mean they are saying yes to how the circumcision is being done.
• It is informed. Someone cannot actively and freely agree if they don’t have the full information.

Keep these conditions of consent in mind over the next blogs as we discuss the various rationale given for boys to be circumcised to help towards “full information”.

To begin, let’s understand who our male readers are by completing the anonymous survey. As you complete the survey, ask yourself, “Did I consent to this?”

https://forms.gle/CpKFLNE1uZSWBJPe8

Read the whole article here:

https://www.rappler.com/voices/ispeak/analysis-understanding-young-men-prison-sexual-crimes

Read the whole article here:

https://www.rappler.com/voices/ispeak/opinion-arguments-against-male-circumcision

Read the whole article here:
https://www.rappler.com/voices/ispeak/opinion-what-about-us-boys-need-protection-too 

Each day brings both challenges and blessings. How we handle these is what makes us who we are and who we will become. At present, the global challenge is COVID-19. We not only have to deal with physical safety from this virus, but also emotional safety. Stress interferes with our ability to control our emotions and to make good decisions, especially with respect to our personal relationships. Reports reveal that there has been an increase in the number of parents hurting their children, physically and emotionally. This book confronts the dual concern of physical and emotional safety during the pandemic.

While facing challenges often brings out the worst in us, it can, and does more often, bring out the best in us. As we struggle with the boredom of staying at home, at the least, or loneliness, hunger, and death at the worst, we are still blessed with who we are. We are loving families and communities filled with people who care about each other.

This book hopes to teach you and your family about how to protect yourself from the coronavirus and about other simple hygiene concerns. It will also remind us that we all face stress, and we all make mistakes as we face difficult situations. We overcome these difficulties with help from each other and with the love of our families.

As you read the book, take time to stop often and talk about what the pages and the illustrations say to you. Explore the issues presented. What other health concerns could affect your family, for example, cancer or sudden death? What about issues such as poverty, unemployment, crime, school absences, or peer bullying? How do these affect you personally? How can you use the experience of Manuel and his family to help you in times of crisis and stress? How can you help others who are experiencing difficult times?

We are all in this together. We have been in crisis situations before and we will be in crisis situations again. But we are a family and a community and together we can survive, learn from the crisis, and grow.

Download the whole book for free here. Listen to the Audio Book here.

Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse is leading an international lecture series to respond to recent research that brings to light an imbalance of general services to our boys. More boys are abused than girls. The same number of boys as girls experience sexual abuse. Boys do not do as well in school. More males commit suicide than females. More men are in prison than women. Yet our programs and services tend to focus on empowering girls. We merely wish to balance the needed work on behalf of girls with work on behalf of boys. This lecture series wishes to begin earnest dialogue to meet this goal.

The international lecture series has 4 basic themes:

• Psycho-social development of boys;
• Building resilience in boys;
• Developing a spiritual base to protect boys; and
• Understanding the male sex offender.

Sub-themes include the issues of:

• Sexuality;
• Sexual violence;
• Medico-legal;
• Children’s literature;
• School; and
• Exploitation.

To Register : https://bit.ly/2JErGLW

Payment may be deposited in our account. You can also use GCASH to bank transfer to our account.
Scanned proof of bank payment must be emailed to CPTCSA at cptcsa20@gmail.com, the link will be sent once payment is confirmed.

Bank Name: Bank of Philippine Islands
Address: Kalayaan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Bank Account Name: Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse (CPTCSA) Inc.
Bank Account No. 1991-007527

This month, think about how you could be a superhero on behalf of male survivors. What would our powers be?

Download the December activity here.