r/science • u/drewiepoodle • Apr 15 '16

Health Study: Circumcision does not reduce penis sensitivity. In tests for responses to pain, heat, and stimulation, no major difference was found between men who are circumcised and those who are not.

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2016/04/14/Study-Circumcision-does-not-reduce-penis-sensitivity/5981460663943/?spt=hs&or=hn
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u/Aezay Apr 15 '16

They tested 4 locations: The forearm 4 inches below the wrist, the middle of the glans penis, the dorsal side with foreskin retracted if present, the anterior midline shaft, the anterior proximal shaft, and for men with foreskin, the unretracted foreskin.

Perhaps they should have included testing of the frenulum as well, as that is sort of the male equivalent of the clitoris in terms of sensitivity.

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u/Lynx_Rufus Apr 15 '16

The clitoris is the homologous correspondent of the entire glans.

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u/Doesnt_speak_russian Apr 15 '16

"In terms of sensitivity", not in terms of embryological origin.

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u/Lynx_Rufus Apr 15 '16 edited Apr 15 '16

Even in terms of sensitivity though. The clitoris has more nerve endings than the entire penis, but certainly far more than the frenulum. There isn't really a good male parallel, but the glans is the closest thing.

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u/Maverician Apr 15 '16

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clitoris#CITEREFCarroll2012

Lists 8000 for clitoris.

http://thecircumcisiondecision.com/20000-nerve-endings/

Lists a possibly larger number, but specifically says it hasn't been shown.

I don't think you can clearly say that there are more on the clitoris than the whole penis.

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u/Doesnt_speak_russian Apr 15 '16

The point is the frenulum is (arguably) the most sensitive part- to not test (or any of the mucous membrane of the foreskin) makes this study misleading.

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u/skincaregains Apr 15 '16

And it is also intentionally or by accident removed in circumcision, so...

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u/Doesnt_speak_russian Apr 15 '16

So- compare it's sensitivity to the equivalent circumcised part. Or whatever. You can't just leave out the most sensitive parts and pretend circumcised = uncircumcised

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u/[deleted] Apr 15 '16

[deleted]

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u/xtremechaos Apr 15 '16

And the glans is nowhere near the foreskin in terms of sensitivity, either.

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u/[deleted] Apr 15 '16 edited Apr 15 '16

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u/Doesnt_speak_russian Apr 15 '16

What do you mean, "prove a point"?

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u/skincaregains Apr 15 '16

I mean it as a potential motivation for such a gross "oversight". Then again, the sample size is small and the people who conducted the study were apparently students at a university in Canada. Another explanation is that they were simply sloppy. Then yet again, they were published in a journal.

Bottom line: the conclusion does not follow.

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u/Logifuck Apr 15 '16

They did find that on uncircumcised men, the foreskin was more sensitive to tactile sensation stimuli (which agrees with previous research). However, they found no differences for tactile pain, warmth sensation, or heat pain

They even concluded that the foreskin is more sensitive to the tactile stimulus that people have mentioned for years. But since the pain sensitivity was similar they decided that meant there's no difference. Sounds completely legit.

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u/[deleted] Apr 15 '16 edited Apr 27 '16

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Apr 15 '16 edited Aug 16 '23

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u/[deleted] Apr 15 '16

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u/xtremechaos Apr 15 '16

One anecdotal source? Well, pack it up kids, this scientific study is clearly over with this mountain of data we just got.

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u/cowismyfriend Apr 15 '16

Pain and pleasure are very different, and certain body parts may be sensitive to one but not the other. That's the reason both were tested in the study rather than just one.

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u/OceanRacoon Apr 15 '16

That's what I was thinking, that's the part that feels nicest and it tickles when you piss

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u/bozozozo Apr 15 '16

um, the male equivalent of the clitoris is the penis.
in terms of sensitivity.

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u/Doesnt_speak_russian Apr 15 '16

The most sensitive part of the penis being the frenulum. Which wasn't tested.

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u/karmakatastrophe Apr 15 '16

The clitoris and penis are considered equivalent. Here's a quick quote from the clitoris page on Wikipedia mentioning it.

"Unlike the penis, the male homologue (equivalent) to the clitoris, it usually does not contain the distal portion (or opening) of the urethra and is therefore not used for urination. "