The Fundamentals of Sex

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Removing the foreskin removes some touch-sensitive nerves, but most are in the head (glans) of the penis.

Some studies of circumcision show sexual impairment, while others show none—or even sexual benefits.

A recent analysis of 15 rigorous studies shows that circumcision enhances men's sexual function.

Circumcision is controversial, sexually and psychologically.

It involves surgical removal of the foreskin, the skin that covers the head (glans) of the penis. The foreskin contains touch-sensitive nerves. By removing them, circumcision opponents insist that it must reduce the penis’ sexual sensitivity and impair men’s pleasure. On Reddit and other Internet forums, opponents have denounced circumcision as barbarous, unfair to male infants, and physically and psychologically harmful.

Supporters counter that the vast majority of erotically sensitive nerve endings are located in the glans, not the foreskin, and that the procedure does not compromise men’s sexual function or pleasure. Recently, Turkish researchers analyzed 15 studies of circumcision and found that far from impairing men sexually, it enhances men’s sexual function.

The investigators conducted a meta-analysis of 15 previously published studies. Meta-analysis is a standard statistical technique that allows the results of small studies to be combined as if they’d all been one large trial. Study size is important. The larger the study population, the more likely the results are to reflect reality. The 15 studies involved 14,737 men, a huge number that lends credibility to the findings. The meta-analysis showed that, compared with men with intact foreskins, those who were circumcised reported greater sexual satisfaction (p < 0.001), improved erection function (p = 0.002), less pain during intercourse (p = 0.03), and fewer orgasm difficulties (p = 0.01) (Karaahmet and Lalaeh, 2025).

The researchers evaluated 15 studies, but many more have been conducted. How did they select those 15? They used the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines for grading research rigor and chose only the most credible studies, which is important. Many studies of circumcision’s sexual impact have been biased either for or against the procedure.

Studies Showing Sexual Impairment: Questionable

Portuguese researchers surveyed a group of adult men who got circumcised for medical reasons. Post-surgically, they all reported less pain........

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