[Brandye]

No one "needs" to be circumcised. Young men have been born with a complete foreskin from the beginning of time. The exact origin of circumcision is not known but it has been practiced for thousands of years. Why? We do not really know why it was begunbut it is prevalent in both Jewish and Muslim communities. It spread over much of Europe and the Far East for hygiene. In most societies it is done to newborns when healing will be fast and the discomfort minimized.

Those societies where it is most common have far lower incidence of cervical cancer than those in which circumcision is not automatic. Uncricumcised males do have higher rates of STDs, or STD transmission, because of the handy little sapce for carrying microbes around. Hygiene is especially important for those who have not been circumcised and those who have difficulty retracting the foreskin have to make extra effort to keep things clean.

There was a thread recently on which several men expressed strong emotions on the topic. We women are not involved in the process but we live with the results. I do recommend circumcision to patient parents. I have never taken an uncovered, uncircumcised penis into me - nor will I. It is a deal breaker for me.

Your specific issue can likely be dealt with through stretching or with a little nick by a doctor. This is a common procedure.

So, the question is not do you "need" to be but, rather, do you "want" to be. Discuss the pros and cons with your physician and make a decision.