Well, let us begin with what will not start a huge argument.
1. In Islamic and Jewish cultures, each practicing ritualistis circumcision at birth, the incidence of cervical cancer is about half that in cultures not circumcising most boys. In Japan, where circumcision is almost unknown, the incidence of cervical cancer is also very low.

2. Scrapings from under the prepuce of uncircumcised men yields more nasty stuff than similar scrapings from circumcised men.

3. Some studies have shown that uncircumcised men are more subject to STDs than circumcised men.

4. Any standard nursing textbook has specific instructions for cleansing, with rather strong biocide, before using a catheter in uncircumcised men with the reason giving as higher infection around catheters in uncircumcised men.

5. The smell under there can be as bad as a woman who does not keep clean and it is all concentrated in a smaller area.

The obvious conclusion to be made is that you should be scrupulous about your hygiene. At least daily, the foreskin should be fully retracted and the whole area should be well cleansed with soap and water.

Beyond those facts, there have been horrendous arguments on the Board getting me warned for calling a jerk a jerk because he acted like a jerk. The subject seems to attract those with a cause to abuse anyone who speaks favorably about circumcision.

I am not aware of any tenets of Catholicism that are against circumcision but being raised Anglican and practicing nothing, that is not my field or my business.

Next step: go to a good male doctor and ask for his advice. He should lay out all the advantages and disadvantages of circumcision. As for me, you will not stick it in me uncircumcised without a condom.

Appalling board behavior in those arguements certainly wasn't restricted to the anti-circumcision camp, okay? But beyond your mention and this response let's NOT start this up again.

To the original poster, it's a complex subject with lots to consider. The nice thing is, it's YOUR decision and with the internet you have an abundance of resources to hear all sides of the debate. You can skip all the "should a child be circumcised at birth" stuff since it obviously doesn't apply to you. There are threads here you can read through that offer (past the sniping) good links to information, and Google "adult circumcision" will also get you lots of info.

You owe it to yourself to be as well informed with FACTS as possible, since there's no going back. ;)

Catholicism does not encourage/discourage circumcision. They are against body piercings/tattoo's/surgery done in vain. If it's a medical issue not linked to permanent sterilization it's fine in the eyes of the Catholic Church.

In all honesty; the Catholic Church finds it a sin to engage in premarital sex. Therefore, if you follow doctrine you will wait until your wedding night & so will your bride; so being circumcised is a non-issue.

I would say begin with proper cleansing, not being lazy, and discuss this with your physician.

A virgin in three ways?
Thought, word, deed?

I was/am totally unaware of the Catholic Church having an opinion against circumcision. Even though I was not raised Catholic my dad's mother was. She left the church when she left Ireland. She had a daughter out of wedlock at 18. She left the baby with family there in Ireland and moved, alone, to Canada. While in Canada she had 3 son's, one with her first husband (he was killed in WW 1) and then my dad and his twin with her second. To my knowledge all 3 were circumcised, don't ya just love that naked baby picture of yourself. And both of my brothers were as well, I know the same way.
I am the keeper of the photos. I have a dozen photo albums which I am working on to give to my relatives in Canada. My dad's side albums have more dad side photo's and ditto for my mom's. Yet they were my parents and I want both sides of MY family to have pictures of all my family.
Hopefully these will be done by the end of the year.
I have also had relationships with a couple of guys who were practicing Catholics and babysat for alot of Catholic kids and all of them were circumcised.

[quote=NaiveAnonymous;222503]

Uh by 3 ways I mean the 3 sex kinds. You know like oral, etc.

Btw, way way way back then premarital was the same as just 2 people joining together so the whole wedding thing I'd go oldschool ;).[/quote]

I have no clue what you mean by this. Any sexual relationship/contact is not sanctioned as a Catholic[if you are strict & intend it] until the wedding night. Oral is sex; it's not the act it's the pleasure which the Church opposes. They also oppose Masturbation in the Catholic religion--it's a sin.

Three kinds of sex? No. It's sex or not. Cannot say oral does not count as a sexual relationship, even in the practice of Medicine. I would document; "patient admits to being sexually active without engaging in intercourse."

Either way, do what is best for you. First wash all the time & look on some of the threads on foreskin retraction.

Sorry not trying to give anyone a complex here...I have gone through all the nonsense of what one can do & not do according to the Catholic Church & I am known as a "Cafeteria Catholic".

Of course they're only interested in sex. Hurray!! Their husbands will be the happier for it too. BCPS & condoms for everyone! See the following link: http://www.iep.utm.edu/s/sexualit.htm

Now, onto your questions: Brandye answered all the medical ones. So I'll just limit my answers to those others.

Uncircumcized means more work and, since you are lazy by your own admission, that should end it. Circumcized men are also much less likely to experience pre-mature ejaculation which is the #1 bane of males in your age group. Besides that - naked heads are much prettier! But that's just my preference. As to masturbation, please note the correct spelling, get your head out of your... thank you. Orgasms, however attained, are good for you and good for your health, whatever the Church might say.

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]You gave a few good reasons to get circumcised as an adult, it looks better, possibly less chance of getting an STD and other things sure. I am not going to run out and get cut but I could see why someone might want to. But to lazy to wash under your foreskin, is it really that difficult. I mean just pull it back when in the shower and rinse it; it literally takes all of five seconds. I go backpacking for over a week some time were the closest thing to showering is swimming in a freezing lake and I still keep it clean. If you want to be circumcised go right ahead, but don’t you think it is easier just to clean it?[/SIZE][/FONT]

Washing is definitely less painful than surgery!

On the pain question, I don't have personal experience but I have heard that it is very painful to get circumcised as an adult.

Don't worry about not being able to pull it all the way back when its hard. If it goes all the way back when soft, you are fine. It will naturally go back when you are with a girl because you get more turned on than when you are with yourself, and sex will make it go back easier in future. Some may disagree with this, but I have definitely found mine goes back further since I started having sex.

It will NOT go back naturally if it is infected or stuck with gunk! You have to be REALLY clean if you're uncircumcized.

Painful? No, they give you a shot to numb it and then tis just s slip of the knife. But men are wimps when it comes to that sort of thing. Fortunately for the species, women are a lot tougher. Says the woman who has to hold hubby's hand when he goes to the dentist and yet gets root canals without anesthesia herself.

[quote=NaiveAnonymous;223053]Hey, I'm not that bad, just don't want to get to that point.

Men are not wimps![/quote]

So be certain to wash very well. Read the board on "Retracting the foreskin".

Men are less willing to cope with pain v. a woman. Who do you think passes out first when they watch their child being sutured? Men.

While not wanting anything invasive performed; men generally will try to get out of it, stating "I cannot do it". Women just do it. As far as injections? Men are generally worse than a woman.

When it comes to genital care/exams? Men complain the most. Women just do it. These are just observations of 20 years or so. I have had men pass out from getting a tetanus shot or an IM (Intra-muscular) injection whereas the female counter part will not.

Put a Foley catheter in a man; it's the end of the earth. Women just chalk it up to life. Meanwhile, placing a Foley men can have a topical anesthetic which is not available for women--urojet's.

I don't know about the difference between the two sexes, but I know so much fear comes from leftover childhood memories of unpleasant and painful doctor's visits. If you have to do something often you quickly come to terms with it. Before being diabetic I was absolutely phobic of needles, now it's *yawn*. Even the most banal daily discomforts - banging your toe or something - are much worse than most shots. I recently had to have an ingrown toenail surgically removed and the doc was going to use novacaine (or whatever the drug is that replaced it - I'm sure Sera knows). I didn't care about the surgery, but that stuff I was REALLY not looking forward to, because I remember having it in my back years ago and it stung like a major SOB. But the anticipation is ten times worse than the actual event - still not fun, but not nearly as bad as I remembered.

Most guys avoid doctors until it's absolutely necessary, which probably makes the event worse for waiting and reinforces that it's going to hurt.

Lido. without Epi. is what is usually used. But for that; I would have also given you a mild sedative before hand. There is also Eth. Chloride which is good for a topical numbing sensation...feels cold and you keep spraying it until the skin is numb then inject.

overall; I think much has to do with women are used to being poked & prodded from the gyn doc's early on & find out it's a way of life. Notably, I do see more men horrified of procedures/needles than woman. No way around the toe repair...they always hurt everyone!

[quote=DVDBear;223057]I don't know about the difference between the two sexes, but I know so much fear comes from leftover childhood memories of unpleasant and painful doctor's visits. If you have to do something often you quickly come to terms with it. Before being diabetic I was absolutely phobic of needles, now it's *yawn*. Even the most banal daily discomforts - banging your toe or something - are much worse than most shots. I recently had to have an ingrown toenail surgically removed and the doc was going to use novacaine (or whatever the drug is that replaced it - I'm sure Sera knows). I didn't care about the surgery, but that stuff I was REALLY not looking forward to, because I remember having it in my back years ago and it stung like a major SOB. But the anticipation is ten times worse than the actual event - still not fun, but not nearly as bad as I remembered.

Most guys avoid doctors until it's absolutely necessary, which probably makes the event worse for waiting and reinforces that it's going to hurt.[/quote]

[QUOTE=sera300;223058]Lido. without Epi. is what is usually used. [/QUOTE] Yup, that's the stuff. ;)