IntactiWiki

Psychological injury of male circumcision: Difference between revisions

← Older edit
WikiModEn2 (talk | contribs)
Bureaucrats
22,096 edits
→Videos: Add video.
Add text and citation.
 
(18 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
Male [[circumcision]] is a surgical [[amputation]] of the [[foreskin]], which contains more than one-half of the erogenous epithelium of the [[penis]]. The [[amputation]] is most frequently carried out on infants and small boys who cannot and do not give consent for the loss of so much of their [[penis]]. There are many '''psychological issues of male circumcision''' that arise from the painful, traumatic, involuntary loss of the part of the [[penis]] with the erogenous tissue that provides much sexual sensation.<ref name ="uberoi2022">{{REFjournal
Male [[circumcision]] is a surgical [[amputation]] of the [[foreskin]], which contains more than one-half of the erogenous epithelium of the [[penis]]. Doctors who perform [[circumcision of the newborn]] do not advise or warn parents of these risks.
 
Andersen-Giberson advised:
<blockquote>
Links between circumcision status and mental health difficulties include significantly higherscores for circumcised men compared to intact men for alexithymia, reports of  significant psychological and emotional harm from circumcision, acute circumcision related distress, disturbed adult socio-affective traits, grief and loss, long-term psychological and psychosocial implications, and significant adverse physical, psychological and sexual consequences.<ref name="andersen2025">{{REFjournal
|last=Andersen-Giberson
|init=D
|author-link=Dale Andersen
|url=https://cdd.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/cdd/article/view/39786/36016
|title=Circumcision and forced disability: Routine male neonatal circumcision and the consequences of amputation within a critical disability studies framework
|journal=Critical Disability Discourses
|date=2025-12
|volume=10
|issue=2
|pages=1-37
|URL=https://cdd.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/cdd/article/view/39786/36016
|DOI=https://doi.org/10.25071/1918-6215.39786
|accessdate=2026-03-12
|quote=In a critical disability studies framework, it is argued that the act of amputating healthy erogenous tissue and the consequences of that amputation cause disability, particularly from a counter-hegemonic lens.
|format=PDF
|accessdate=2026-03-13
}}</ref></blockquote>
The [[amputation]] is most frequently carried out on infants and small boys who cannot and do not give consent for the loss of so much of their [[penis]].<ref name="andersen2025" /> There are many '''psychological issues of male circumcision''' that arise from the [[pain| painful]], [[trauma| traumatic]], involuntary loss of the part of the [[penis]] with the erogenous tissue that provides much sexual sensation.<ref name="andersen2025" /><ref name ="uberoi2022">{{REFjournal
  |last=Uberoi
  |last=Uberoi
  |first=
  |first=
Line 70: Line 92:
  |pages=
  |pages=
  |accessdate=2023-03-01
  |accessdate=2023-03-01
}}</ref> [[Foreskinned]] men derive comfort from their [[foreskin]] that is not available to [[circumcised]] men.
}}</ref> [[Foreskinned]] men derive comfort from their [[foreskin]] that is not available to [[circumcised]] men.<ref name="andersen2025" /> <ref name="prescott1975">{{REFjournal
|last=Prescott
|init=JW
|author-link=James W. Prescott
|url=http://www.violence.de/prescott/bulletin/article.html
|title=Body Pleasure and the Origins of Violence
|journal=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
|date=1975-11
|volume=
|issue=
|pages=10-20
|accessdate=2022-11-05
}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
Line 102: Line 136:
== Profound lack of understanding of psychological issues ==
== Profound lack of understanding of psychological issues ==


There was little awareness of emotional and/or psychological issues when child [[circumcision]] was being promoted in the late 19th century and early 20th century. For example, [[Douglas Gairdner]] (1949) made no mention at all of [[pain]], [[trauma]] behavior changes, or psychological issues in his landmark 1949 paper.<ref name="fate1949">{{GairdnerDM 1949}}</ref>
There was little awareness of emotional and/or psychological issues when child [[circumcision]] was being promoted in the late 19th century and early 20th century. For example, [[Douglas Gairdner]] (1949) made no mention at all of [[pain]], [[trauma]], behavior changes, or psychological issues in his landmark 1949 paper.<ref name="fate1949">{{GairdnerDM 1949}}</ref>


[[Intact America]] (2023) reported that [[intact]] males were shamed.<ref>{{REFweb
[[Intact America]] (2023) reported that [[intact]] males were shamed.<ref>{{REFweb
Line 646: Line 680:
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


Male circumcision is part of the culture of the Philippine Islands. Boys usually are not neonatally circumcised. Instead, [[Tuli| circumcision]] is done when they are somewhat older. Some are medically circumcised while others are [[circumcised]] in a traditional manner. Ramos & Boyle (2001) studied the psychological effects of [[circumcision]] on Philippine boys. They reported that sixty-nine percent of traditionally circumcised boys and fifty-one percent of medically circumcised boys met the criteria for a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder ([[PTSD]]).<ref name="ramos-boyle2001">{{REFbook
Male circumcision (called ''[[tuli]]'') is part of the culture of the Philippine Islands. Boys usually are not neonatally circumcised. Instead, [[Tuli| circumcision]] is done when they are somewhat older. Some are medically circumcised while others are [[circumcised]] in a traditional manner. Ramos & Boyle (2001) studied the psychological effects of [[circumcision]] on Philippine boys. They reported that sixty-nine percent of traditionally circumcised boys and fifty-one percent of medically circumcised boys met the criteria for a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder ([[PTSD]]).<ref name="ramos-boyle2001">{{REFbook
  |last=Ramos
  |last=Ramos
  |first=Samuel
  |first=Samuel
Line 758: Line 792:


===Feelings and behavior of circumcised men===
===Feelings and behavior of circumcised men===
[[Foreskinned]] men derive comfort from their [[foreskin]] that is not available to [[circumcised]] men.<ref>{{REFjournal
[[Foreskinned]] men [[Foreskin play| derive "body pleasure", comfort, and satisfaction]] from their [[foreskin]] that is not available to [[circumcised]] men.<ref name="prescott1975" /> <ref>{{REFweb
  |last=Tye
|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/FriendsOfTheFrenulum/comments/1ma5zqc/the_data_is_in_the_silence_is_broken_a_first_look/
|title=The Data is In. The Silence is Broken. A First Look at Our Survey's Staggering Results.
|last=Intactivist
|first=Accidental
|init=
|author-link=
|publisher=REDDIT
|date=2025-07-26
|accessdate=2025-07-27
}}</ref> <ref>{{REFweb
|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/penisquestion/comments/1md58l6/touching_your_penis/
|title=Touching Your Penis
|last=Anonymous
|first=
|init=
|publisher=REDDIT
|date=2025-07-30
|accessdate=2025-08-23
}}</ref> <ref>{{REFweb
|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/uncircumcised_talk/comments/1n0cnh2/how_do_you_play_with_your_foreskin_not_sexually/
|title=How do you play with your foreskin? Not sexually, just casually
  |last=Anonymous
  |first=
  |first=
  |init=MC
  |init=
  |author-link=
  |author-link=
  |last2=Sardi
  |publisher=REDDIT
|first2=
  |date=2026-08-25
|init2=LM
  |accessdate=2025-08-26
|author2-link=Lauren Sardi
}} </ref>
|etal=no
 
|title=Psychological, psychosocial, and psychosexual aspects of penile circumcision
[[Intact America]] (2024) reported that [[circumcised]] men have feelings of loss, grief, and anger toward their family.<ref name="kristel2024-12-22">{{REFweb
|trans-title=
  |url=https://intactamerica.org/emotional-weight-of-circumcision/
|language=
  |title=The Emotional Weight of Circumcision: Beyond the Physical Cut
|journal=Int J Impot Res
  |last=Alissa
  |date=2023-05
|volume=35
|issue=3
|pages=242-8
|url=https://www.galdef.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Tye-Sardi-Psycho-Aspects-of-Penile-Circumcision-IJIR-2022.pdf
|archived=
|quote=
|pubmedID=35347302
|pubmedCID=
|DOI=10.1038/s41443-022-00553-9
|format=PDF
  |accessdate=2024-12-18
}}</ref>
 
[[Intact America]] (2024) reported that [[circumcised]] men have feelings of loss, grief, and anger toward their family.<ref name="kristel2024-12-22">{{REFweb
  |url=https://intactamerica.org/emotional-weight-of-circumcision/
  |title=The Emotional Weight of Circumcision: Beyond the Physical Cut
  |last=Alissa
  |first=Kristel
  |first=Kristel
  |init=
  |init=
Line 1,203: Line 1,240:


[[15 Square]], the British charity, has established the [https://15square.org.uk/talking-therapies-circumcision-and-mental-health/ Talking Therapies – Circumcision and Mental Health]. The service is only available to persons in the [[United Kingdom]] due to legislative reasons. 15 Square advises there is an alternative available for persons outside of the United Kingdom through their Discord server.
[[15 Square]], the British charity, has established the [https://15square.org.uk/talking-therapies-circumcision-and-mental-health/ Talking Therapies – Circumcision and Mental Health]. The service is only available to persons in the [[United Kingdom]] due to legislative reasons. 15 Square advises there is an alternative available for persons outside of the United Kingdom through their Discord server.
[[Intact America]] now has a team of therapists.<ref>{{REFweb
|url=https://intactamerica.org/therapy/
|title=Therapy Partners
|last=
|first=
|init=
|author-link=
|publisher=Intact America
|date=
|accessdate=2025-11-20
}}</ref>


==Autism spectrum disorder==
==Autism spectrum disorder==
Line 1,230: Line 1,279:
</blockquote>  
</blockquote>  


After the medical community belatedly learned that infants actually feel [[pain]], Howard, Howard, & Weitzman (1994) tested the use of acetaminophen (paracetamol) for post-surgical pain following neonatal non-therapeutic circumcision.<ref name="howard1994">{{REFjournal
After the medical community belatedly learned that infants actually feel [[pain]],<ref name="anand1987">{{REFjournal
|last=Anand
|init=KJS
|author-link=Kanwaljeet J. Singh Anand
|last2=Hickey
|init2=PR
|author2-link=
|etal=no
|title=Pain and its effects in the human neonate and fetus
|journal=N Engl J Med
|location=
|date=1987-11-19
|volume=317
|issue=21
|pages=1321-9
|url=http://www.cirp.org/library/pain/anand/
|archived=
|quote=
|pubmedID=3317037
|pubmedCID=
|DOI=10.1056/NEJM198711193172105
|accessdate=2025-09-23
}}</ref> Howard, Howard, & Weitzman (1994) tested the use of acetaminophen (paracetamol) for post-surgical pain following neonatal non-therapeutic circumcision.<ref name="howard1994">{{REFjournal
  |last=Howard
  |last=Howard
  |first=Cynthia R.
  |first=Cynthia R.
Line 1,336: Line 1,407:
  |DOI=10.1001/jama.2022.23661
  |DOI=10.1001/jama.2022.23661
  |accessdate=2023-01-13
  |accessdate=2023-01-13
}}</ref>
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, (2025) has claimed that boys who are [[circumcised]] early have twice the rate of autism.<ref>{{REFnews
|title=Circumcised boys more likely to be autistic, RFK Jr claims
|url=https://archive.is/OKBsv#selection-2265.4-2265.65
|last=Anonymous
|first=
|init=
|author-link=
|publisher=The Telegraph
|website=
|date=2025-10-09
|accessdate=2025-10-10
|format=
|quote=
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


Line 1,682: Line 1,768:
  |date=2022-12-10
  |date=2022-12-10
  |accessdate=2025-02-20
  |accessdate=2025-02-20
}}
* {{REFweb
|url=https://intactamerica.org/mens-therapy-group-circumcision-trauma/
|title=Healing After Forced Genital Cutting: A Therapist’s Perspective on Men’s Recovery and Resistance
|last=Andersen
|first=Dale
|init=
|author-link=Dale Andersen
|publisher=Intact America
|date=2025-11-10
|accessdate=2025-11-20
}}
}}
{{ABBR}}
{{ABBR}}
{{REF}}
{{REF}}


[[Category:Parental information]]
 
[[Category:Circumcision]]
[[Category:Circumcision]]
[[Category:Circumcision risk]]
[[Category:Circumcision risk]]
[[Category:Circumcision complication]]
[[Category:Circumcision complication]]
[[Category:Education]]
[[Category:Pain]]
[[Category:Psychology]]
[[Category:Psychology]]
[[Category:Pain]]
[[Category:Parental information]]
[[Category:Sociology]]
[[Category:Trauma]]
[[Category:Trauma]]
[[Category:Education]]
 


[[de:Psychische Probleme aufgrund männlicher Beschneidung]]
[[de:Psychische Probleme aufgrund männlicher Beschneidung]]
Retrieved from "https://en.intactiwiki.org/wiki/Psychological_injury_of_male_circumcision"