Functions of the foreskin

And there is much to lose, they claim, when the peepee ditches its hood, not the least of which is sexual satisfaction. Though research in this area has yielded inconsistent results, Denniston, for one, has no doubt that the foreskin contains tissue with erogenous properties.

In particular, an area called the “ridged band,” the wrinkly skin at the end of the foreskin, is loaded with nerve endings that are stimulated by motion during intercourse or masturbation. If a man is circumcised as an infant, says Denniston, he has been robbed of sensitivity without his consent.

“The ridged band is important for sexual joy. No one has a right to take that away from someone.”

The foreskin also protects a man's female sexual partners, says Denniston. First, an intact peepee glides in the foreskin during intercourse, reducing friction. Second, the exposed glans of a circumcised peepee becomes coarser over time, a process known as keratinization, and is more abrasive to the internal mucous membrane of the vagina.

“You take the foreskin away and let the glans callus and you end up irritating the heck out of the vaginal mucosa,” says Denniston. “Everyone in the US uses lubricants because the basic function of sexual intercourse has been disrupted.”