February 18, 2013

(JTA) — A new medical study in Belgium suggests circumcised men experience less intense sexual pleasure and orgasm than uncircumcised counterparts.

The study by Dr. Piet Hoebeke from Ghent University Hospital surveyed 1,369 men over the age of 18, who responded to leaflets handed out in train stations across Belgium, the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Neieuws reported on Monday.

The men were asked whether they were circumcised, and were then asked to rate how sensitive their penis was, how intense their orgasms were and whether they experience any pain or numbness when they are aroused.

Overall, 1,059 uncircumcised men reported between 0.2 points and 0.4 points higher sensitivity and sexual pleasure compared to the 310 circumcised men surveyed.

“It’s not a very big difference in sensitivity, but it’s a significant difference,” Hoebeke is quoted as saying.

The researchers also found circumcised men were more likely to report more pain and numbness during arousal than uncircumcised men, which Hoebeke said is likely due to scar tissue.

“I’m amazed that people report pain during sexual pleasure… That’s very amazing and that was unexpected,” he said.

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