Circumcision
Created | Updated Sep 9, 2005
Circumcision is a type of genital mutilation, popular with the Muslim and Jewish faiths for religious reasons (it helps curb physical lusts and reduces the sexual appetite), and popular within the United States because many people believe it has benefits that it does not. Heiroglyphs indicate the practice began in aincent Egypt as part of a snake cult, and that the Jews, at the time a slave caste, picked it up from there. It is unclear where the practice originated within the Muslim faith, but it is known that all Prophets of that religion had the procedure preformed upon them. Circumcision consists of surgicly removing the foreskin of the penis- Foreskin is often described as "A loose flap of skin at the end of the penis". This is innaccurate. The foreskin is a double layer of skin that folds over upon itself and is attached at the base of the penis and just below the head. The extra skin folds over the head of the penis while it is flacid to provide protection from the elements and the dangers of zippers and the angry knees of others. Without the foreskin, the head of the penis bumps into calfs and underpants on a regular basis, and, as the head of the penis doesn't actually have skin (it's a thick membrane, like the lips), it hardens and becomes calous-like in responce to the abuse. When the penis is errect, and ready for action, foreskin is arguably more important, because it provides lubrication, increases sensitivity, (prolonging the sex act), and makes nookie feel better for both participants. There are certian rumors concerning "health benefits" as a result of circumcision, which have been eliminated by experts. Circumcision does not reduce risk of contracting a sexually transmited disease- in fact, the American Medical Associacian found it "slightly more likely" that circumcised males will contract an STD in their lifetime. In 1999, the American Association of Pediatrics found that the potential benefits of a circumcision are outweighed by the potential risks- 4% of circumcisions are "unsatisfactory" or have complications, while 1 in 500 have serious complications (death from blood loss, brain damage from too much anastetic, or amputation of one of the world's favorite organs being examples.) As an asside, it seems that there are rumors that the uncircumcised penis is unclean. This is a matter of personal hygine, not surgery, and males have no excuse for neglecting this particular portion of the anatomy. Yeesh!
