Should Men Consider Getting Circumcised to Last Longer in Bed?

Exploring the connection between circumcision status and premature ejaculation

There is a rumor going around that men who are circumcised are better lovers. Why? It is thought that men who have been “snipped” are better able to control their sexual longevity and their need to orgasm, since they are supposedly “desensitized” due to the removal of all or part of their penis’s foreskin.

Is there any truth to this tale? A group of researchers performed a meta-analysis of available research to find out whether circumcision status has an impact on whether or not someone is vulnerable to experiencing PE, and what they found may come as a surprise.

What the research shows: New research published in the First International Journal of Andrology took a look at existing studies and performed a meta-analysis, allowing them to review a large amount of data from prior studies to see if there was any correlation between premature ejaculation and circumcision.

In other words, a group of scientists wanted to know whether or not having your foreskin removed had any impact on your sex life—specifically, whether it had any effect on the phenomenon of premature ejaculation (which is most simply defined as coming before you or your partner want you to).

The researchers combined the data of 12 studies, including an astonishing number of reports: from 10,019 circumcised men and 11,570 uncircumcised men.

Several forms of sexual dysfunction were reviewed in the analysis, including erectile dysfunction, painful intercourse, and premature ejaculation.

What do these numbers mean? Although being circumcised may play a role in certain sexual dysfunctions, PE isn’t one of them. In short, don’t go rushing to the doctor to go under the knife just because you have PE.

So what does cause premature ejaculation? So now that the common myth that circumcised men are less vulnerable to premature ejaculation (because of reduced sensitivity at the head of the penis), and that not being circumcised causes PE has been debunked, let’s review what is the real cause?

The true cause of PE has nothing to do with circumcision status. All types of men may experience PE.

Causes of premature ejaculation can vary, and may include genetic, physical, or psychological components. No matter who you are, where you come from, or what your penis looks like, you could get PE. However, the ‘here and now’ cause of PE is a person’s inability to recognize the ‘point of no return.’

In other words, men with PE aren’t able to see ‘the line’ until they have already crossed it and are unable to go back.

Can premature ejaculation be treated? So, we established that going to the doctor’s office to get circumcised is not the best option (not that we think anyone actually considered it, anyway). What can you do if you are unfortunate enough to suffer from PE?

Well, the good news is that there are several treatment options available for men who are suffering from premature ejaculation, including medication and therapy.

And while this is definitely an issue that can cause men a great deal of pain and distress, it is actually one of the most treatable of all sexual dysfunctions! All PE treatments vary in terms of cost, risk, and long-term effectiveness. Let’s review the most common and effective ones:

Treating with over-the-counter or prescription remedies: Some men with PE prefer a quick fix, even if it’s a temporary one. If this is the case for you, you may opt to use topical anesthetic sprays or gels that cause the penis to feel numb, hoping that the numbness will extend the time until ejaculation.

Another treatment option is taking pills, usually antidepressant medications, that can have a delaying effect on ejaculation. One major issue with these treatments is that they are temporary. Once the anesthetic wears off or the pills stop being taken, the PE returns.

Also, pills can have unwanted side effects and sprays could transfer to your partner’s skin, causing numbness in unwanted places.

Treating with sex therapy and exercises: If Pills and gels don’t work for you as a long term solution, and you are looking for a solution that treats the root of the problem instead of its symptoms, what can you do? Well, one option is sex therapy or trying out PE-specific exercises at home.

Using ejaculation control exercises (such as the ‘squeeze technique’ or the ‘stop-and-start’ method) will teach you how to stop premature ejaculation from happening. These exercises can provide results that are longer-lasting than sprays, gels, and pills. These methods focus on allowing men to enjoy sex instead of distracting or depriving themselves of sensation in an attempt to stave off orgasm.

Instead, men with PE can learn to recognize their ‘point of no return’ and adjust their penetration and stimulation accordingly. This helps them to build stamina without sacrificing erotic enjoyment.

Where to find answers and get treatment for premature ejaculation: If you are having trouble staying “up to the task” as long as you and your partner want, don’t fret. You can easily learn more about how to treat it, and you have several options available.

Consider talking to your doctor about the issue, or finding a sex therapist in your area to consult with. You can also learn to improve your ejaculatory control by using the PE Program, a smart online program, developed with the help of Dr. Zvi Zuckerman, that includes an online premature ejaculation exercise program.

About the Author: Andrew Wilkes is a health writer for the Between Us Clinic. The Between Us Clinic provides sex therapy online programs for men and couples experiencing premature ejaculation.