Has retracting changed your opinion on circumcision?

[HeroicGlance]

Just curious.

It's given me a bit more empathy towards those who are cut (here in the USA - that's still like 75% of all men) but otherwise, my opinion remains as it was when I discovered what circumcision was was at the age of 12:

Just a silly, bizarre idea.

[anon21]

Nope, still see it as unnecessary unless there's a legitimate medical reason to. This is coming from an Indonesian - people in my country still has the consensus of it being obligatory for health reasons, and I believe some Muslims even celebrate it when it's done in their teens. They're usually baited with silly rewards like a new console (back in the mid 2000s). Nowadays it's probably a new smartphone lmao

[ThePiemel]

The thought of a circ crossed my mind, long time ago. It is just nice to keep your glans bare. But happy I never had it done. Luckily there were no cultural or religious pressures here, or how mine would look after sports, compared to the rest of the guys.

When I stroke down now, my foreskin nearly covers all my shaft. On a 19 centimeters penis when hard. Nearly half of that is inner foreskin. Which is different to glans sensitivity, but sensitive. It can make me cum without even touching my glans. When close, I can barely touch that inner foreskin or there we go again. Sometimes even without orgasm, and then I can just keep going for the bang after that.

I am very happy now half my penis, plus glans is sensitive and no section was ever removed there. Also happy I did not retract as a child, because then my inner skin would not have grown as it did to now cover half my shaft. The only thing that still is not completely in shape is that ridged band. But almost there. I want it to be as wide as the rest of the skin. But not a brain cell here to consider having that cut out. I see no reason nor sensible explanation to have that done. Like when you miss part of your tongue but you can still taste food and speak. Yeah right. I prefer to keep things the way I was born.

[scotsguy27]

I would say that I am still for circumcision on a medical basis.

In regards to circumcision on a cultural/religious level I am not going to lecture or try to rationalise their views on circumcision as everyone is entitled to their beliefs. What I am against would be circumcision of new borns and young children purely for the sake of it or doctors recommending it so kids will fit in with friends or as an easy option for tight foreskin (my younger cousin couldn't fully retract until he was about 14).

I once considered circumcision as I liked the look of my exposed glans and admittedly I do like a circumcised penis. I often have thoughts of circumcision but currently can't justify the cost of cosmetic circumcision. Perhaps one day I may get cut when older but currently I am happy and content with my foreskin.

My younger cousin was insecure about his foreskin as he has a long foreskin with a "bunching" of the rigid band at his tip. At one time he wanted to get rid of it but now he just accepts it.

[paul214]

Yeah, I tried permanent retraction a whole bunch of times (which is why I joined up here!) over the years but couldn't keep it up, and eventually I did decide that the easiest way was just to get circumcised. Very happy with that decision two years later!

[Derek]

Yeah, I tried permanent retraction a whole bunch of times (which is why I joined up here!) over the years but couldn't keep it up, and eventually I did decide that the easiest way was just to get circumcised. Very happy with that decision two years later!

One may assume that permanent foreskin retraction and circumcision are two different things in terms of sensations. Permanent retraction means the foreskin is pulled back behind the glans but remains intact, whereas circumcision involves the removal of the foreskin entirely. I understand that the sensations and experiences can vary between individuals, but they are generally distinct.
Could you provide more insight into your personal experience. What has changed in terms of sensations after you lost your foreskin? It's not a circumcision forum but I think this topic is important.

[gayonlyporn]

Yes. If I were younger I would probably get cut.

[Derek]

Yes. If I were younger I would probably get cut.

What are the differences in terms of sensations between permanent retraction and circumcision? You've been in two worlds, and had no medical reason for circumcision, which is rare.

[randint]

It has for me. I initially never considered getting circumcised at all, but after a few months of retracting I have been seriously considering getting cut for several months now. To me, taping my dick every day is not worth the effort, not to mention the nasty residue the tape leaves.

[Nivek]

Well, Randint, you'll have to try getting pulled back without tools/tape. It takes some time, but if you manage to achieve it, then it will be minimal effort!

As for me, I have a fetish for a low and tight circumcision, where most inner foreskin is removed leaving only glans sensation... but since it's irreversible, I don't think I ever will do it.

[HeroicGlance]

It has for me. I initially never considered getting circumcised at all, but after a few months of retracting I have been seriously considering getting cut for several months now. To me, taping my dick every day is not worth the effort, not to mention the nasty residue the tape leaves.

I would say that patience is a virtue.  I had a rather substantial foreskin, and at first, I had to do the taping, the rings, etc.

But over the years, things settled back, and now I can go permanent with absolutely no effort - I don't think my (former) foreskin has gone past the coronal ridge in over a year.

Having spoken to a few people who went through circumcision later in life, I would say that very few had good things to say about the experience - but hey- everyone is built differently.

For me, I couldn't imagine losing so many nerves and so much tissue.

[randint]

I would say that patience is a virtue.  I had a rather substantial foreskin, and at first, I had to do the taping, the rings, etc.

But over the years, things settled back, and now I can go permanent with absolutely no effort - I don't think my (former) foreskin has gone past the coronal ridge in over a year.

Should I use a ring 24/7 to keep it back at all times? Would that accelerate this process? I also have quite a long foreskin, and even when taped it sometimes rolls forward to cover the glans. Also, may I ask how long it took for your foreskin to learn to stay back all the time?

Well, Randint, you'll have to try getting pulled back without tools/tape. It takes some time, but if you manage to achieve it, then it will be minimal effort!

Thank you, I will stop using tape and only use a ring.

[Nexolaris]

I would say that patience is a virtue.  I had a rather substantial foreskin, and at first, I had to do the taping, the rings, etc.

But over the years, things settled back, and now I can go permanent with absolutely no effort - I don't think my (former) foreskin has gone past the coronal ridge in over a year.

What is a "substantial foreskin"? Maybe you could use the coverage index to give us a better idea?
https://www.restoringforeskin.org/coverage-index/CI-chart.htm
It only makes sense that the more foreskin you have the more difficult it will be to make your foreskin stay retracted permanently.

Having spoken to a few people who went through circumcision later in life, I would say that very few had good things to say about the experience - but hey- everyone is built differently.

For me, I couldn't imagine losing so many nerves and so much tissue.

What do you mean with experience in this context? The procedure and healing process afterwards, or being cut in general? Just curious because personally, I wouldn't want to have my foreskin back.

[HeroicGlance]

Should I use a ring 24/7 to keep it back at all times? Would that accelerate this process? I also have quite a long foreskin, and even when taped it sometimes rolls forward to cover the glans. Also, may I ask how long it took for your foreskin to learn to stay back all the time?

Pardon the TL;DR answer.

In your post, you say you've been doing this for a few months.

Let me tell you that there is absolutely no way that one can go from occasional (or no) retraction to full-time, unaided retraction in such a short period of time.  It takes time for your body to react to this new condition, and adjust accordingly.

I know that there are some people on this forum who will tell you that they can "speed keratinize" by soaking their glans/inner foreskin in mineral spirits (rubbing alcohol.)  This is simply incorrect from a medical or practical point of view.

Your inner foreskin needs to keratinize, as well as your glans, and that usually takes about 6 months of 24/7 retraction to achieve (although partial keratinization can be achieved over time, by occasional retraction, as well.)

I can tell you that at first I had the best success at keeping things retracted at night.  I sleep on my side, and I would usually shove a pillow between my legs so I could use the pressure to keep my foreskin retracted.

Later, I started doing it occasionally during the day - and for the first several years (let's say 2-3) I had serious issues with keeping it rolled back even for more than a few minutes.

Like you, at a certain point, I was considering circumcision, because I couldn't keep things back for more than an hour or so during my waking hours. That was typically when I was sitting at my desk, or on the couch watching TV.  The moment I started waking around, or I leaned forward, that damned skin would slide back down.

However, the thought of losing so much agency over my own body repelled me - so I kept at it.

Now - about this time, I adopted a mindset that you might want to adopt:

When the foreskin slid back down, I didn't consider it a "defeat" and figure "Shit - this will "NEVER happen."

I just considered it a slight setback, pulled it back up, and went on about my business. 

After about 2 years of occasional retraction, I was able to go an entire evening with my foreskin pulled back behind the glans.  As I went to bed that evening, I was like "Wow- solid win!"  However, the next morning the damned skin slid back during the morning shower.

That was when I first discovered the autocirc forums.  This was in the mid 2000's, and there was nowhere near as much info on the topic, as there is today.

There, I learned that you could cut the "rubber band" part off from a smaller-size condom, and place it so that it rested behind your coronal ridge. 

That was the first time I was able to keep things back for a full day.  I actually kept things back successfully for another two days (swapping out the ring twice a day, of course,) but due to circumstances beyond my control, I had to abandon that attempt.

I kept trying - and eventually, my coronal ridge had expanded, and the inner foreskin became toughened and slightly keratinized. I could keep my foreskin back on it's own with no aid for days on end after about four years.

About eight years in, I got a frenum piercing, for the express purpose that it would keep my foreskin permanently retracted - which it did.  Unfortunately, I found it troublesome during sex, so I had to remove it after 18 months.  A year later I got a Prince Albert, and that's when the switch flipped.

It was at that point when my foreskin repeatedly kept creeping back on its own accord - I guess it was the extra weight.  During the winter, it was well-nigh impossible to keep my foreskin from creeping back, whenever I went outside.

In the end, whether or not to be circumcised is entirely up to you - but IMHO circumcision is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.  Try getting a Prince Albert first, with the full ring.  It's less painful, heals faster, and turns your orgasms up to 11 - plus, after a few months, I guarantee your foreskin will be trained to stay back - if not permanently, then for longer times than it ever was before...

And again:  TIME is your friend, here.

[HeroicGlance]

What is a "substantial foreskin"? Maybe you could use the coverage index to give us a better idea?
https://www.restoringforeskin.org/coverage-index/CI-chart.htm

What do you mean with experience in this context? The procedure and healing process afterwards, or being cut in general? Just curious because personally, I wouldn't want to have my foreskin back.

Seriously:  I would say that I was between a CI-10 and a CI-9 when I was around 14-15 years old.  I'd say I am now between a CI-3 and a CI-4 both flaccid and erect, after 20 years of retracting.  You can check my posts for pics (Not a showoff, here.)

Now- as far as my references:

1:  An interview with a russian jewish guy who was never cut at birth, but when his family moved to Israel, he got tons of peer pressure to get cut when he was drafted into the armed forces.  He said he had pretty much lost all sensation, and sex was far less pleasurable.

2:  I knew a driver for a rehab facility who had to get cut in his early 50's (because, quite frankly, he slept around a lot, and wasn't clean.)  After the operation (which he complained about a lot) He reported he could definitely last longer, but the orgasms were about 50% strength.

3:  An online discussion with a man in the USA whose experience in the US Military was similar to example 1 above.  He was a common poster on an autocirc subreddit, and was an avid preacher against the practice.  He apparently didn't like the look, the feel, or just about anything about it.

Now, let me acknowledge two things:

1:  We're all built differently, physically, and mentally.  Most men take what they are dealt with, on either side of the practice, and the debate.  I don't doubt you can find an equal amount of people who were circumcised later in life who absolutely love it.

2:  I've seen enough cut dicks in my life to understand that there as many ways to cut a dick, as there are dicks.  I've seen men whose entire inner foreskin was cut away, leaving just the shaft skin attached to the glans.  I've seen others that were cut far further back on the shaft, preserving most of the frenulum and ridged band.  I don't doubt that some are far superior to others - but that's entirely up to the owner.