If it is not clear, prepuce removal is one form of many genital cutting practices (e.g. “circumcision”). The prepuce covers the glans of the clitorophallus (glans penis on the typical male, glans clitoris on the typical female).
The prepuce on a typical female is relatively smaller than a typical male. The following paper addresses the potential dangers of only prepuce removal as well as more invasive forms of genital cutting:
Mahran M. Medical dangers of female circumcision. IPPF Med Bull. 1981 Apr;15(2):1-3. PMID: 12336839.
The prepuce on a typical male can be 12-15 square inches on an adult male. While that may be hard to believe, you have to remember that the prepuce is a fold of tissue, not just a single layer like an eyelid. It also wraps around a cylindrical object. Here is an SFW video that shows a way to understand the size: https://youtu.be/R5JHFRSyrDU
There are multiple tools and methods used for removing the prepuce from a large clitorophallus (aka penis). Some methods use a clamp such as a barzel or Mogen clamp. Some methods use a bell method such as Plastibell, Gomco Clamp, or ZSR. There’s also the Shang Ring. Sometimes the surgeon will use a scalpel and free-hand the process. Different tools and methods result in different parts being removed. More or less inner mucosa (the tissue that would normally be on the glans when there is no erection) will be removed. More or less of the frenulum will be removed. It is important to understand this due to the varying innervation and functions of those parts. The following study analyzed the “Fine-touch pressure thresholds in the adult penis:” https://bjui-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2006.06685.x
Losing the erogenous tissue is not the only harm. The following playlist is a set of SFW videos that explain how the lack of the tissue is likely to affect the individual: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmR7whJ6sRSF47iYcyNvthsX0jFaNaayN
For more details about the anatomy, physiology, and functionality of the prepuce on a larger clitorophallus (aka penis), click here.
The following link is an SFW site providing a list of some complications:
https://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/for-professionals/complications/
The following is a “Systematic review of complications arising from male circumcision”
https://bjui-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bco2.123
The following links will take you to **NOT** SFW images and videos of very bad outcomes:
http://circumstitions.com/Complic.html
Psychological Harms of Male “Circumcision”
OK, the heading of this section used the “Male ‘Circumcision'” terminology in order to rank on the search engines. As noted in the terminology section, this site aims to avoid emotional terminology. This heading is strictly used to get the attention of some readers that still prescribe to the euphemism.
Also, note that the term “male” is used instead of staying non-sexist. Psychological impacts are the same regardless of sexual assignment. The challenge is that resources that are going to be referenced still prescribe to the sexual and gender binary.
The psychological impacts can come from multiple aspects:
- The cutting process where the individual feels degrees of physical pain and fear.
- The treatment of the individual by their family, friends, culture and society at large.
The following book takes a deep dive into several studies that analyze the impacts to an individual when they experience things during infancy. This is pertinent because the prepuce amputation of males occurs during infancy in many cultures.
More can be said about the psychological harms from the cutting of male-typical genitalia and maybe more will be added here in the future, but much of what can be said applies to everyone, not just those with a large clitorophallus (aka “penis”). This topic is so complex and things said apply regardless of sexual assignment. Thus, separate pages address these items:
- Degrees of Physical Pain
- Potential Effects of Fear During Genital Cutting
- Sociological Dynamics and Psychological Effects of Genital Cutting
Never heard a man complain? Women prefer “circumcised” men?
Don’t be so sure. Check out this page.
Page last updated February 8, 2022