How Foreskin Benefits Women
Most of the information available on foreskin restoration is centered around how it can benefit the man restoring, and rightfully so. Naturally this makes sense, but I would argue that foreskin restoration can benefit a man’s female partner just as much, or even more than the man himself.
There has been some research done on women’s preferences for intact vs. circumcised. The largest meta-analysis done on women’s preferences showed a preference for circumcised men, though all of the studies used showed strong cultural biases like aesthetics.(1) Other reasons for preferring a circumcised penis were most often based on perceived false benefits such as cleanliness and reduced risk of infection.(1) The authors of this study also admitted a conflict of interest as being part of a pro-circumcision organization.(1) It also only looked at what women said they preferred, and not the actual sexual outcomes. According to the authors:
“Also needed is research on whether women have a different sexual response and outcome of sexual activity beyond the aphrodisiac effect of what the woman finds desirable, this being influenced by culture, the woman’s global feelings about her partner, and the sexual script.”(1)
There is in fact one study that looked at the actual sexual outcomes in women where 100% of the participants had experienced sex with both intact and circumcised men. Women with circumcised partners had more vaginal discomfort, less vaginal secretions, less frequency of orgasm, lesser duration of coitus, and lower overall positive rating of sexual experience.(2) Even women who claimed to prefer circumcised partners “still found unaltered partners to evoke more vaginal fluid production, a lower vaginal discomfort rating and fewer complaints.”(2)
Looking at the end result, women in this survey had a 60% chance of achieving vaginal orgasm from an intact partner, but only a 34% chance from a circumcised partner (The survey defined 'vaginal orgasm' as 'an orgasm that occurs during intercourse, brought about by your partner's penis and pelvic movements and body contact, along with your own body's pelvic movements, with no simultaneous stimulation of the clitoris by the hands').(2) In The Complete Guide to Foreskin Restoration, I cover the mechanics of penetrative sex with an intact penis versus a circumcised penis. To briefly summarize, an intact penis makes gentler, smaller strokes due to the gliding action of the foreskin. Because of the loss of sensation due to circumcision, circumcised penises have to use larger strokes in order to create enough friction to reach orgasm. This excessive friction, as well as the rough texture of the exposed, keratinized glans, can cause more irritation inside the vagina.
While sexual mechanics offer a logical explanation as to why women reported to have better experiences with intact partners, the data suggests that there are other factors not related to just mechanics. Women also reported significant differences in the quality of intimacy in their relationships:
“The responses in Sets 1, 2 and 3 (Table 3) are more a measure of intimacy than physical differences in thrusting patterns. While some of the respondents commented that they thought the differences were in the men, not the type of penis, the consistency with which women felt more intimate with their unaltered partners is striking. Some respondents reported that the foreskin improved their sexual satisfaction, which improved the quality of the relationship.”(2)
One of the most shocking statistics on circumcision I have come across is a survey done in 1990 in the United States showing that of couples married 50 years or more, 70% of the men were intact.(3) Given that the rate of circumcision in the United States at this time was around 65%, the difference here is truly remarkable. Although the correlation between long term marriage and intactness could be due to several factors, the data cited above suggests that intact men are able to have better intimate relationships with women.
The real question now is, can foreskin restoration help? The answer to this is a resounding, yes! One of the main benefits of foreskin restoration is that as the remaining skin is expanded, this increases the gliding action of the penis. It is not an all or nothing improvement either. Every millimeter of new skin grown increases the gliding action, and significant improvements are often noticeable in as little as a few months. In fact, female partners of men who are restoring will often times notice significant improvements during sex before the man does. I have even heard a few stories of women who noticed a difference before their partner had even told them they started restoring.
Conclusion
While I do believe that restoration can significantly improve sex for both men and women, and possibly improve their relationships overall, it is not going to solve all of their problems. Anyone can have problems with intimate relationships for a variety of reasons, and circumcised men are capable of having fulfilling relationships. I would also like to emphasize that nobody should force restoration onto their partner for their own sexual gratification. Foreskin restoration is a very personal process, and the decision to restore is only up to the individual to make. That being said, I think that improved sexual satisfaction for women is an additional reason why men should consider restoring.
References:
1. Morris BJ, Hankins CA, Lumbers ER, et al. Sex and Male Circumcision: Women's Preferences Across Different Cultures and Countries: A Systematic Review. Sex Med. 2019;7(2):145-161. doi:10.1016/j.esxm.2019.03.003
2. O’Hara K, O’Hara J. The effect of male circumcision on the sexual enjoyment of the female partner. BJU Int 1999; 83 (Suppl. 1): 79–84
3. Hughes GK. Circumcision--another look. Ohio Med 1990; 86: 92
Image: U.S. Department of the Interior, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons