Organization News - National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers
P.O. Box 2512, San Anselmo, California 94979
Tel: 415-488-9883 Fax: 415-488-9660
Men Scarred by Circumcision
University of Sydney, NSW In the first study of its kind, researcher Tina Kimmel presented, at the Sixth International Symposium at the University of Sydney, Australia, her preliminary findings indicating that penile sensitivity of the glans in normal males is 25-30% greater than that of circumcised males.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 11, 2000
CONTACT:
Morris Sorrells MD, Tel (650) 322-1298
Gregory Boyle, PhD. Bond University, Australia
George Denniston MD, Tel (813) 657-9904
Using the Semmes-Weinstein Sensory Evaluator, Kimmel also discovered that "the foreskin is far more responsive to sensation than previously thought."
Kimmel and fellow researcher Morris Sorrells found that the foreskin matches the lips and possibly exceeds the eyelids in sensitivity. "Circumcision represents a true loss of sensation, it is not a diminutive harm," Kimmel said. The foreskin measurements went 'off the scale' in the standard 0-20 testing scale. A more sensitive, automated device that would measure even greater amounts of sensitivity was not available to the researchers. Sorrels plans to obtain the device and perform over 48 penile sensitivity tests on 500 volunteers.
Kimmel used a sample group of circumcised, intact, and foreskin-restoring men. Initial findings indicate that restoring men gain back sensitivity, but never attain the sensitivity of men who were never circumcised. Non-surgical restoration techniques use stretching the skin to cover and protect the glans.
Confirming Kimmel's conclusions, presenters Dr. Gregory Boyle and G. Bensley reported that their findings revealed circumcised males are physically and psychologically harmed by the practice. Boyle said, "The majority of circumcised men could be reliably classified as having penile scarring, being reluctance to use condoms, and experiencing a progressive decline in sexual sensitivity. Many express regret and are hesitant to think about their circumcision status. There are many adverse physical, sexual and psychological effects from infant circumcision, which need to be acknowledged in any discussion pertaining to informed consent in relation to circumcision surgery."
Boyle reported, "A circumcised male has been deprived of a highly specialized, sensitive and erogenous part of his penis that would have served important sensory, sexual and protective functions had it been left in place." A large number of nerve bundles are removed during circumcision. "The foreskin is the primary sensory platform of the penis," said Boyle. "The glans of the penis has very few nerve bundles, about the same sensitivity as the back of the heal."
Experts from around the world addressed the physical, psychological, religious, moral and ethical issues confronting Female and Male Genital Mutilation. Previous Symposia have been held at Anaheim, California (1989), San Francisco (1991), University of Maryland (1994), University of Lausanne, Switzerland (1996) and Oxford University (1998).
