Don’t fret — your brit milah has had no impact on sensitivity or satisfaction during sex.
That is the conclusion of a landmark study by Australian scientists who conducted a systematic review of the scientific literature, analysing almost 40 studies on the controversial subject.
Led by Professor Brian Morris of the University of Sydney, the scientists found that those studies that suggested the opposite conclusion tended to be of lower quality.
“The highest-quality studies suggest that medical male circumcision has no adverse effect on sexual function, sensitivity, sexual sensation, or satisfaction,” Professors Brian Morris and John Krieger concluded.
The findings, published in the November edition of the Journal of Sexual Medicine, analysed 36 studies that described the sexual effects of male circumcision on a total of 40,473 men, half of whom were circumcised.
They found that circumcision had no negative effect on “penile sensitivity, sexual arousal, sexual sensation, erectile function, premature ejaculation, duration of intercourse, orgasm difficulties, sexual satisfaction, pleasure, or pain during penetration.”
The study noted the health benefits of male circumcision, including “substantially lower risks of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.”
The findings come as circumcision remains under the microscope from legislators in Europe who are seeking to ban what they believe is a “barbaric” ritual. Circumcision is commonly carried out worldwide for health reasons, as well as for religious reasons.
