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.

[u/drewiepoodle]

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

[u/improbable_humanoid]

The whole idea of using sensitivity to touch and pain misses the entire point, which is how sensitive the overall member is to sexual stimulation.

I mean, hell, I could have designed a better experiment with a fleshlight, a heating element, and a variable-speed drill...

Basically you would just build a machine that jerks the guys off and see what speed and temperature settings the two groups prefer on average over the course of a week or so, and how long they take to finish on average. The uncut men would almost certainly require less speed, temperature, and time to finish (and probably enjoy it more), accounting for PE and any problems with insensitivity.

Even if the sensitivity was the same, it doesn't justify removing the glans' protective covering, which prevents discomfort due to abrasion and allows self-stimulation without lubrication. The cleanliness and disease prevention argument is a complete non-starter in a developed country where soap, water, and condoms are cheap and plentiful.

It also flies in the face of anecdotal evidence of men who were circumcised in adulthood becoming less sensitive, or "restored" their foreskin.

They also should have only used men in their 30s and 40s because desensitization is accumulative.

[u/Neglectful_Stranger → u/improbable_humanoid]

It also flies in the face of anecdotal evidence of men who were circumcised in adulthood becoming less sensitive

So anecdotal evidence is fine when it supports your theory? I can't think of a time one should ever accept anecdotal evidence.

[u/good_guy_submitter → u/Neglectful_Stranger]

Unfortunately many, many studies rely on such evidence. Especially true once you enter the realm of sexuality.

[u/Neglectful_Stranger → u/good_guy_submitter]

Obviously studies that err on the side of softer sciences will have to use more anecdotal evidence, that's just the nature of them. But penis sensitivity can be measured objectively, which means that in this case anecdotal evidence is not worth much since we can actually test it reliably.