Circumcised men report better sexual function, but effects are small and variable

A meta-analysis of studies examining the effects of male circumcision on sexual function found that circumcised men reported higher sexual satisfaction levels compared to their uncircumcised peers. They also tended to report somewhat better erectile function and were less likely to experience recurrent pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia). The research was published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy.

Male circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin, the fold of skin that covers the head of the penis. It is one of the oldest known surgical practices, with evidence tracing back more than 4,000 years to ancient Egypt. The practice spread across different cultures and religions, most notably Judaism and Islam, where it carries deep religious and cultural significance.

In Judaism, circumcision, called brit milah, is performed on the eighth day after birth as a covenant with God. In Islam, it is not mentioned explicitly in the Qur’an but is widely practiced as part of the Sunnah and is viewed as a sign of cleanliness and belonging to the faith. Outside of religious contexts, circumcision has also been performed for social, cultural, and medical reasons.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, it became common in some Western countries, especially the United States, partly due to beliefs about hygiene and disease prevention. Medically, circumcision has been associated with reduced risks of urinary tract infections, penile cancer, and the transmission of some sexually transmitted infections, though the overall public health significance of these benefits remains debated. Critics also point out ethical concerns, particularly regarding performing the procedure on infants without consent. Today, circumcision rates vary widely: it is nearly universal in some religious and cultural communities but uncommon in others, such as much of Europe.

Study authors Aysu Yıldız Karaahmet and Shahla Shafaati Laleh set out to systematically evaluate the effects of male circumcision on sexual function. In particular, they examined whether circumcision influences premature ejaculation, erectile function, pain during intercourse, and sexual function more broadly.

Free daily newsletter

They searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Scopus, and TR Dizin for studies on circumcision and male sexual function. Eligible studies involved male participants (sometimes divided into subgroups by age, sexual health history, and psychological status), included circumcision as the intervention, and measured some aspect of sexual functioning as the outcome. The authors focused on randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies published in English and Turkish.

They initially screened 378 records but ultimately included 15 studies that met their criteria. Of these, six were randomized controlled trials, while the rest used other designs. The quality of the included studies varied. Some were of high methodological quality, while others were rated lower. Common sources of bias included lack of random allocation, inadequate concealment of group assignment, and absence of participant blinding (where participants know which treatment they are receiving).

Overall, the results suggested that circumcised men reported higher sexual satisfaction compared to uncircumcised men, though the findings across studies were highly heterogeneous. Circumcised men also showed a small but statistically significant improvement in erectile function and were less likely to experience persistent pain during sexual intercourse. They were also less likely to report orgasm difficulties. In contrast, the evidence regarding premature ejaculation was inconclusive.

“Overall, this meta-analysis suggests that male circumcision may have potential positive effects on certain aspects of sexual function, particularly sexual satisfaction and erectile function. Nonetheless, the clinical significance of these findings is uncertain, and further investigation is warranted given the heterogeneity observed,” the study authors concluded.

The study sheds light on potential effects of male circumcision on sexual functioning. However, it should be noted that the results of analyzed studies were very heterogenous and some results were inconsistent. Additionally, the methodological quality of some of the analyzed studies was low.

The paper “The Influence of Circumcision on Male Sexual Function: A Meta-Analysis of Satisfaction, Erectile Function, and Dyspareunia” was authored by Aysu Yıldız Karaahmet and Shahla Shafaati Laleh.