I Researched Circumcision! ...Did You Really?

By James Ketter © 2014



"I made an educated decision to circumcise my son."

Did you? Really? That can be easily verified.

POP QUIZ:

1-a) In what style did you choose to circumcise your son:
a) Low and Loose.
b) Low and Tight.
c) High and Loose.
d) High and Tight.
e) Radically High.
f) Radically Tight.
g) Dorsal Slit.
h) Button Hole.

1-b) What are the benefits and negatives of each style? 

2-a) What method of circumcision did you request for your child?
a) Plastibell.
b) Mogen Clamp.
c) Gomco Clamp.
d) Freehand.
e) Traditional Mohel.
f) Traditional Tribal.
g) Electro-cauterization.

2-b) What are the risks and possible complications associated with each method? 

3) What are the most common possible immediate complications of the circumcision surgery? 

4) What is the most common possible LATE term complication of circumcision? (from circumcision to 12 years.) 

5) What is the greatest risk factor for ADULT men circumcised in infancy? 

6) What is the most common cause of foreskin infection in boys that have NOT been circumcised? 

7) How do you clean and care for a circumcised boy's penis immediately after circumcision (from circumcision to healing)? List all necessary steps. 

8) How do you clean and care for a circumcised boy's penis after healing? List all necessary steps. 

9) How do you clean and care for a boy's penis who is intact (has not been circumcised)? List all necessary steps. 

10) How does an adult care for his own penis that has: 
a) been circumcised?
b) never been circumcised?

*Bonus Question* 
What are the 16 functions of the foreskin lost to circumcision?

 If you cannot answer the above questions, you did NOT research, or make an educated decision to circumcise your son.


Answer Key:

1-a) Pick one. (5 points.) If you are unable to recognize which style of circumcision was inflicted upon your son, no marks are awarded.

1-b) (5 points each.)
a) Most inner foreskin removed, minimal outer foreskin removed. A fold of outer foreskin remains. Without inner foreskin, penile sensitivity is reduced. With a fold of skin remaining, penile skin must be forcibly retracted at each cleaning. Frenulum (male G-spot) commonly destroyed.
b) Most inner and outer foreskin removed, no folds remain. Without inner foreskin, penile sensitivity is reduced. Causes tight, possibly painful erections. Frenulum (male G-spot) commonly destroyed. Rolling, gliding action not possible.
c) Most outer foreskin removed, minimal inner foreskin removed. A fold of inner foreskin remains. With a fold of skin remaining, penile skin must be forcibly retracted at each cleaning. High risk of possible skin adhesions, skin bridges, and highest risk for subjecting your child to corrective surgery (second circumcision) when inner foreskin attempts to heal back onto the glans.
d) Maximum outer penile skin and outer foreskin removed, minimal inner foreskin removal. Loss of the protective layers of outer penile skin leaves penis more prone to injury from abrasion and tension. Increased chances of keritinization, leading to adult loss of sensitivity. Rolling, gliding action not possible.
e) All of the outer penile skin is removed, leaving only inner foreskin. Painfully tight erections are assured. Most of the penis is trapped withing the pubis. Penetrative sex may not be possible.
f) All of the inner foreskin, and most of the outer penile skin, is removed. Painfully tight erections are assured. Most of the penis is trapped withing the pubis. Penetrative sex may not be possible.
g) All the foreskin remains, though split at the dorsal line. Foreskin must be forcibly retracted at each cleaning. Maximum possibility of skin bridges, adhesions, and secondary surgeries. Greatest possibility of foreskin healing incorrectly. Least appealing cosmetic result.
h) All of the foreskin remains, though the glans is exposed through an incomplete slit in the top of the foreskin, like a button through a button hole, where it heals in place. Cleaning is virtually impossible. Most sensitive regions of the penis is trapped and inaccessible. Penetrative sex may be impossible.

2-a) Pick one. (5 points.) If you are unable to recognize which method of circumcision was inflicted upon your son, no marks are awarded.

2-b) (5 points each.)
a) Frenulum commonly destroyed. Possible slippage of ring causing excessive bleeding, damage to the glans, necrosis, infection, complete loss of penis, loss of glans, poor cosmetic result, and many others, up to and including death.
b) Possible amputation of some or all of the glans. The company that manufactured this clamp went out of business settling lawsuits because of injuries of this type. Complete loss of the penis, complete degloving of the penis (loss of all outer skin,), wound dishiscence (skin coming apart), necrosis, infection, complete loss of penis, poor cosmetic result, and many others, up to and including death.
c) Frenulum commonly destroyed. Possible crushing of and loss of the penis if correct bell sizes are not used, excessive bleeding, damage to the glans, necrosis, infection, complete loss of penis, loss of glans, poor cosmetic result, and many others, up to and including death.
d) Riskiest method. The slightest slip of the doctor's scalpel and damage can occur anywhere on the infant penis. Excessive bleeding, damage to the glans, necrosis, infection, complete loss of penis, loss of glans, poor cosmetic result, and many others, up to and including death.
e) As risky as any of the above, with a far greater chance of infection and transference of diseases such as herpes to your infant.
f) Extraordinarily dangerous and unsanitary. By far the riskiest and most damaging circumcision method of them all.
g) Electro cauterization burns and seals shut the vascular system around the cut reducing bleeding, but excessive heat travels through the skin destroying nerve tissue far removed from the circumcision site. Heat can destroy much more of the penis, and is famously known for causing necrosis of the penis. All other above complications remain possible.

3) (5 points for each of the following. 25 points max): Pain, bleeding, infection, inability to bond with mother, lack of interest or ability to breastfeed, and infant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

4) (10 points) Meatal Stenosis. Studies differ, and place this late term complication at 5 to 30% of all circumcised children who will experience this painful and dangerous complication of missing their foreskin. Surgical correction may be the only remedy. Even at only 5%, this remains the greatest risk to all circumcised boys.

5) (10 points) Erectile Dysfunction. Adult circumcised men suffer from ED 4.5 times more frequently than their intact counterparts.

6) (10 Points) Premature Forcible Foreskin Retraction. PFFR occurs when an adult, caregiver, or doctor forcibly retracts (even “gently”) the foreskin of a child prematurely. The average age of retraction is 10.4 years. Prior to that the foreskin is fused to the glans to prevent infection from foreign materials and pathogens. Some males may not have a retractable foreskin until late puberty. (17 years old or later.) NEVER retract the foreskin of an intact child. It is self cleaning until post-puberty, at which time only clean water is required to rinse off the glans and inner foreskin.

7) (5 points) Care must be taken with the circumcised child's wound. It will be raw and sensitive. Vaseline or petroleum jelly is used to keep the raw wound from sticking to his diaper. If the foreskin appears to be healing to glans, gently pull the penile skin down, breaking the adhesions. This will be both painful and traumatic for your baby. Excessive touching or cleaning of the circumcision wound may disrupt the infant/parent bond and disrupt breastfeeding. Watch for excessive bleeding. If more than a few drops of blood are visible in the diaper, your child may be at risk of hemorrhage. It only takes 2.3 oz. of blood loss for your baby to go into shock and possibly die.

8) (5 points) Clean the outside like a finger... unless a fold of skin remains at the edge of the glans. If a fold remains, gently pull it down and clean around the edge of the corona, this is a fold where dirt and foreign pathogens can collect. As the natural cleaning mechanism of the penis has been destroyed, be careful that the entire penis, including any folds of skin are carefully inspected and cleaned. If you notice skin bridges or adhesions, a second surgery and breaking of the adhesions may be necessary.

9) (10 points) Clean only what is seen. Wipe the outside like you would a finger. NEVER retract the foreskin or you will disrupt the natural cleaning function of the penis.

10) a) (5 points) Clean the outside like a finger... unless a fold of skin remains at the edge of the glans. If a fold remains, gently pull it down and clean around the edge of the corona, this is a fold where dirt and foreign pathogens can collect. As the natural cleaning mechanism of the penis has been destroyed, be careful that the entire penis, including any folds of skin, are carefully inspected and cleaned. If you notice skin bridges or adhesions at any point, a second surgery and breaking of the adhesions may be required.
b) (5 points) Clean the outside like a finger. Retract the foreskin briefly and rinse the glans and inner foreskin with warm water. Avoid soap inside the penis. Soaps can disrupt the natural cleaning mechanism of the penis.

BONUS QUESTION (30 points)
1. Erotic pleasure via the ridged band.
2. Rolling, gliding action during sex or intercourse. Acts as the male contribution to lubrication.
3) Prevents dyspareunia (painful intercourse).
4) Stimulates partner's genitalia, giving erotic pleasure.
5) Supplies skin to cover the shaft in erection and prevent tightness.
6) Stores pheromones and releases them on arousal.
7) Stores, releases and helps distribute natural lubricants ("smegma" and pre-ejaculatory fluid).
8) Makes the glans a visual signal of sexual arousal.
9) Provides a seal against the vaginal wall to contain semen.
10) Prevents the glans becoming keritinised, and keeps it soft and moist.
11) Protects the thin-skinned glans against injury.
12) Protects the nerves of the glans, retaining their erotic function.
13) In infancy, protects the urethra against contamination, meatal stenosis, and UTIs.
14) Provides lysosomes for bacteriostatic action around the glans.
15) Pigmented, it protects the unpigmented glans against sunburn.
16) Vascular (rich in blood vessels that bring heat to the tissues), it protects the less vascular glans against frostbite, as Sir Ranulph Fiennes found on his epic transpolar walk.


Total possible points including the Bonus Question = 200
145 or higher – Congratulations, you are likely an advocate for genital autonomy and chose to keep your child intact.
100 to 144 – You are very educated on this subject.
75 to 99 – You have a lot more to learn.
Less than 75 – You did NOT make an informed decision.



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Meatal Stenosis: Growing up with Circumcision Pain

By James Ketter © 2014


When I say I was damaged by infant circumcision, I should be specific. There wasn't anything immediately wrong with the genital cutting I was subjected to. My parents and the doctor were quite happy with the immediate result, and frankly, other than a few hurtful comments about how short my penis appeared, I didn't know any different as a child.

Puberty changed everything.

You see, it is impossible to tell how much penile skin a baby will need when he grows up. His tiny penis isn't developed yet. Doctors have to make a guess about how much of the mobile structure of the penis to destroy. They often guess wrong. One of the most common complications includes the removal of too much skin, as happened to me.

During puberty I experienced tight, painful erections. Without enough slack skin, the bulk of my penis had been trapped my whole life. It made my penis look shorter than it really was. When erections and my growth spurt started, this caused me a great amount of pain. My penis skin literally split under the tension. I was left with less than half the penile skin I should have had. No one noticed this, because frankly, some kids are just less endowed than others. And, what parent is going to try and get their child to have an erection to check and see if he has enough penile skin? No, that never happened. That would have been a whole other level of child abuse.

The growth and erections of my teen years left me with stretch marks and awful scarring. Masturbation was actually impossible for me because of the tight skin until I was 15 years old. Oh, I was as horny as all the other teens, but I just couldn't do anything about it because of the pain it caused me. I never told my parents this, because, let's face it, teenage boys DO NOT talk to their parents about their penis or masturbation habits.

With no one to talk to about it, I assumed that all my sexual problems were my fault.

I blamed myself for not being masculine enough.

I blamed myself for being defective.

Twice before I was 18 I tried to kill myself because of my perceived failings as a male.

When I finally had sex, I was disturbed to discover I just couldn't feel anything from my partner. Years of scarring and thickening of the skin left me with an insensitive member that wasn't equal to the task. The only way I could feel anything through my penis was during masturbation and with a death grip that could crush full beer cans. A vagina has some grip, sure, but no where near enough for me to feel what I ought to have felt. This led to years of depression, self blame, and a lot worse. I had to fake orgasms with women. It was devastating to my psyche. Eventually it was just too much work, so the relationships would break down because of lack of intimacy.

I came across foreskin restoration a few years ago, and it was a purely cosmetic choice for myself. I had grown up around my intact cousins, and I always felt my penis was wrong looking. The idea of hiding my horrible scars under a fold of skin sounded really appealing. Within the first few months of starting foreskin restoration I noticed a change. As I slowly developed more slack skin, my penis slowly began to heal for the first time since I'd started puberty. The more slack skin I had, the better things functioned. By the time I developed enough slack skin to again cover the glans (head) properly I was sold. When the skin covers the glans, the glans starts to heal and shed all the thickened skin that has built up over the years. My sensitivity magnified a hundred fold. Shedding the thickened skin and healing the glans also allowed the scaring around my meatus to soften. Pain I had had my entire life while urinating suddenly disappeared. That pain was so constant and expected that I thought it was normal. My mind had become accustomed to the pain so much that it no longer registered. Suddenly not feeling a pain I had had my entire life was a revelation.

Eventually I researched and discovered that I had been suffering from Meatal Stenosis all my life. At nearly 40 years of age, I was finally cured of it. Foreskin restoration has reduced the look of my scars, improved the function of my penis, and improved my overall mental, physical and sexual health. I have had enough foreskin now to know what both sides of circumcision feel like, and it is no contest. Foreskin is simply better in each and every way. There really is no excuse to remove a body part this valuable and functional.


My own parents, when I was a child, were just like all the pro-cutting parents I try and educate. They were convinced I was 'fine.' I was a happy child, and I didn't know any better. When asked, my parents were proud of their decision, and would recommend it to their friends because of how happy THEY were with the configuration of MY penis. But they didn't know the reality. They never could, and never can. Neither can you if you cut your son.

When I hear men brag about their penis, and claim, "I'm cut, and I'm fine," I laugh, because I know the truth. The more insecure you are about your penis, the more you lie and claim everything is fine. Everything is fantastic, "I am so very, very happy, happy with my cock!" It is a lie, and an evasion. I know. I used to be the King of Denial. I used to say those very same things. It takes a VERY brave man to admit his penis is less than it should be. I would have walked into burning buildings, or into a war zone without blinking, but to admit my penis was flawed was something I didn't have courage enough to admit. It took restoring my foreskin to finally make me admit out loud what had been wrong for so very long.

Now I brave insults and ridicule for spreading education about the abomination that is genital cutting. I'm sorry to say, if you cut your child, you will probably never know the damages you have done. Boys and men are not wired to talk openly and honestly with their parents about this. A man will die before he lets anyone think there is anything wrong with his penis, or his masculinity. You can claim, 'my son is fine' all you want, but you just cannot, and likely never will, know the actual truth. He may not be able to face the truth of this himself. More than to anyone else, he will lie to himself.


There is no way to know how much skin a baby boy will require for his penis when he is grown. It is NOT something that can be predicted. Doctors have to guess. They can, and do, guess wrong more than they guess right. I speak out against genital cutting because I know first hand how horrible and wrong it really is. I know what the circumcised child is missing. I know what he can suffer. I know what you've put him at risk for. I've experienced it. I've researched every aspect of it, and there really is no excuse to take this pleasure away from another person.

Make no mistake, the foreskin is erogenous tissue. It is more pleasurable to have one than to NOT have one. It IS a valuable part of the penis. It is an organ with specialized functions that make a man's life better. Its loss is not insignificant. It is NOT just skin.

If men were supposed to have foreskin, they would be born with it. Don't just research circumcision. Research the foreskin.

~~~~~~~

Informational items available for sharing at: SavingSons.org/p/info-cards.html





Foreskin Restoration on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon



Although couched within an aura of mockery, complete with a couple jokes about genital cutting, the fact that Jimmy Fallon highlighted Dr. Jim Bigelow's book, The Joy of Uncircumcising, may be enough to spur Tonight Show viewers into looking it up out of curiosity and stumbling into foreskin restoration options, intact information, and the many resources available today on infant circumcision.

Despite being presented in a manner that flows right along with the cutting culture in which we live, the presentation of this book for a brief two minutes on The Tonight Show last night (9.11.14) may lead to future men enjoying sex as they were meant to enjoy it... with full and complete genitals.


The Tonight Show Dialog: 

Jimmy Fallon: For all you guys out there - you guys like reading books, right? It's The Joy of Uncircumcising. And it's great. As you can see, it's a very thick book - so it must be a very joyful experience. Look who it's written by - Jim Bigelow.

Steve Higgins: Jim Big-and-Low?

Jimmy Fallon: No, no - Jim Bigelow. [camera zoom to author's name]  This book was actually a lot longer, but they cut the end off.

Steve Higgins: You used to work for a guy who did circumcisions, didn't you?

Jimmy Fallon: Ah, yeah, I didn't get paid though - I only worked for tips.


For further information on foreskin restoration, and its impact on men and their partners, visit resources on the Restoration Page.

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