The penile foreskin is a piece of tissue that surrounds the glans of the male penis, protecting it. This piece of tissue is movable. Especially religiously motivated and thus not medically indicated circumcisions of the foreskin are in great criticism.
What is the penile foreskin?
The foreskin of the penis, called the prepuce in medicine, covers the glans of the male penis. It is movable and protects the glans from drying out, dirt as well as injury. As an erogenous zone, it plays a major role in sexuality. It is much more sensitive than the lips or fingertips, which makes it very receptive to light touches. For this reason, circumcision is highly controversial for religious or hygienic reasons that are not medically indicated. This method has lasting consequences on the sensitivity of the penis during the sexual act, because the most receptive part for stimulation is removed. This can cause problems in the expression of sexuality, because there can be increased difficulties due to the reduced sensitivity during orgasm on the part of the man. Penetration can also be more difficult because the foreskin’s task of keeping the glans moist cannot be fulfilled. Thus, penetration, for example into the vagina, becomes much more difficult and may be painful. In this regard, penile circumcision appears to have a similar scope as female circumcision.
Anatomy and structure
The penile foreskin consists of two so-called leaves. The inner leaf, also called the inner foreskin, is a smooth mucous membrane. It begins just behind the glans and is a continuation of the skin that surrounds the penis. The inner foreskin is covered with glands called preputial glands. These produce a sebaceous secretion that keeps the glans moist and protects it from invading germs. The end of the inner foreskin is a furrowed band that forms a fold in front of the glans, completely enclosing it. From there, there is a transition, but it is not visible, to the outer foreskin. On the underside of the glans is a visible line of adhesion, the foreskin suture. This merges into the foreskin frenulum, which ends in the suture of the penis. There are numerous ends of nerves in the foreskin, which make it a highly sensitive tissue. Due to their high degree of specification, they react very quickly to temperature differences as well as touch. In this way, the foreskin is assigned to the erogenous zones of the man. The glans, on the other hand, is nowhere near as sensitive, as it is mainly receptive to coarse stimuli through free nerve endings.
Function and tasks
The foreskin has several tasks and functions. The glands found in the inner foreskin produce a secretion that keeps the glans soft and pliable. The so-called smegma serves to maintain a stable bacterial flora in the male intimate area and to protect it from diseases. It protects against infections that can also affect the urethra, as its function is the natural hygiene of the glans. In addition, the external foreskin protects the glans from dirt, injuries and dehydration. During lovemaking, stimulation of the foreskin has an arousing effect, because it contains numerous specified nerve endings that are very sensitive. For this reason, it is considered an erogenous zone of the man. During erection, the foreskin serves as a skin reserve for the extension of the penis. It also produces a special sliding effect that facilitates penetration. Without it, ten times more force is needed for this, which can lead to pain for the partner. After penetration, the foreskin also facilitates movement during the sexual act. Thus, it counteracts vaginal dryness and ensures a reduction in friction, which leads to an increase in pleasure for both partners. Circumcision of the foreskin can thus greatly affect a man’s sexuality.
Diseases
The best-known complaints stem from a narrowing of the foreskin, a condition known as phimosis. In this case, the foreskin cannot be pulled over the glans or not completely, so that an erection is painful. In boys up to preschool age, adhesion of the glans and foreskin is normal. This serves to protect against injury and dirt. With increasing age, however, the adhesion dissolves more and more due to involuntary erections.But if no solution begins from each other, which should be completed at the age of about six years, it is necessary to think about surgery. In adults, phimosis can be caused by an injury, during the healing of which the foreskin and glans fuse together. This can also be resolved from each other only by surgical intervention. Symptoms such as itching as well as pain during urination and erection are problematic. If the inflammation is so advanced that urination and ejaculation are limited, there is a severe case of phimosis. In this case, the foreskin can inflate like a balloon due to the back-up of urine. In children, treatment is not performed until symptoms appear or they reach school age. For mild phimosis, an ointment with cortisone can help. The last step advised for permanent phimosis is surgical circumcision, which, when performed by a trained medical professional, is a safe treatment option.
Typical and common penile diseases
- Erectile dysfunction (erectile impotence).
- Potency problems
- Premature ejaculation
- Congenital curvature of the penis
