Researchers from the United States and Australia have concluded that circumcision does not interfere with a man's sexual function or pleasure.

Past research on circumcision and male sexuality has had mixed results. In this study, the researchers sought to clarify the issue through a literature review.

They examined 36 studies that involved 40,473 men. Approximately half of the men were circumcised; the other half were not. 

The researchers found that the higher-quality studies provided evidence that “circumcision had no overall adverse effect on penile sensitivity, sexual arousal, sexual sensation, erectile function, premature ejaculation, ejaculatory latency, orgasm difficulties, sexual satisfaction, pleasure, or pain during penetration.” 

On the other hand, lower-quality studies tended to report sexual problems for circumcised men. However, the researchers did not consider these studies to be as reliable.

Future research should include more high-quality research, the authors said. 

Their report was first published online in August 2013 in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. Please click here for more details. 

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