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==First retraction of the foreskin==
==First retraction of the foreskin==


Functions of the [[foreskin]] include protecting the glans penis from abrasion, [[keratinization]] and moistening it by with body oils and moisture to keep it moist, smooth, and glossy with full sensation.<ref name="fleiss-hodges-vanhowe1998">{{FleissP HodgesF VanHoweRS 1998}}</ref> The glans of the [[foreskinned]] [[penis]] under the foreskin normally is kept moist to wet with a mixture of moisture and skin oil by transudation. The foreskin will also collect [[pre-ejaculate]] when it is secreted. There may be a substantial accumulation of beneficial [[smegma]] that has been collecting there harmlessly since birth.
Functions of the [[foreskin]] include protecting the glans penis from abrasion, [[keratinization]] and moistening it by with body oils and moisture to keep it moist, smooth, and glossy with full sensation.<ref name="fleiss-hodges-vanhowe1998">{{FleissP HodgesF VanHoweRS 1998}}</ref> The glans of the [[foreskinned]] [[penis]] under the foreskin normally is kept moist to wet with a mixture of moisture and skin oil by [[transudation]]. The foreskin will also collect [[pre-ejaculate]] when it is secreted. When the foreskin is first retracted, There may be a substantial accumulation of beneficial [[smegma]] that has been collecting there harmlessly since birth.


It is normal for the glans penis (head of the penis) to be very sensitive to touch when the [[foreskin]] is retracted for the first time since birth.
It is normal for the glans penis (head of the penis) to be very sensitive to touch when the [[foreskin]] is retracted for the first time since birth.


There is no particular reason to touch the head so, if it is painful to touch, then one may simply avoid touching it. Nature provides the [[foreskin]] with its well known [[Immunological and protective function of the foreskin| protective functions]].  Simply keeping the foreskin forward in its protective position over the glans penis will prevents pain.
There is no particular reason to touch the glans so, if it is painful to touch, then one may simply avoid touching it. Nature provides the [[foreskin]] with its well known [[Immunological and protective function of the foreskin| protective functions]].  Simply keeping the foreskin forward in its protective position over the glans penis will prevent pain.


==Sensitivity and innervation of the glans penis ==
==Sensitivity and innervation of the glans penis ==
Halata & Munger (1986) claimed that the glans penis only has "protopathic sensibility",<ref>{{REFjournal
|last=Halata
|first=
|init=Z
|author-link=
|last2=Munger
|first2=
|init2=BL
|author2-link=
|etal=no
|title=The Neuroanatomical Basis for the Protopathic Sensibility of the Human Glans Penis
|trans-title=
|language=
|journal=Brain Research
|date=1986-04-23
|volume=371
|issue=2
|pages=205-30
|url=https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/47139534/0006-8993_2886_2990357-420160710-21337-1czck3b-libre.pdf?1468265379=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DThe_neuroanatomical_basis_for_the_protop.pdf&Expires=1773680894&Signature=G~5-88zKrByje8j7J0kc663XlCIsu8wMNTBsVZJX4F-gKZbToJEiO3QJZFN3krrBVPp0~yUyOrVcN2wIZZu9oO5-jphoryilJg7eLf5L5UYq4P2O~jMEQTWwPb05eNH3wPDicxJsEW0wHi~hDpnz2gnsQcGt3agZbffimyfwY3-hXPSk9pHKuayNU~JSxhgqoBqxuoy--b1XRT4QieoDm-Z6WotprhYvruELQMXOdWy1H-tmCnAkcSMT4D-2Ret99~9rrVODXvYn5PFn9sMJK04PY1nD1rH6kFr2701qSTslc6NxE6jMQZmpgOK6VRKt0lm-Ox0w3kO7pqP~inscsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA
|quote=
|pubmedID=3697758
|pubmedCID=
|DOI=https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(86)90357-4
|accessdate=2026-03-16
}}</ref> meaning that the sensation is limited to "detecting crude, undifferentiated sensations that are vital for survival, such as pain, variations in temperature, the sensation of itch, and the subtle feeling of tickle."<ref>{{REFweb
|title=Protopathic Sensation
|url=https://www.academia.edu/26875202/The_neuroanatomical_basis_for_the_protopathic_sensibility_of_the_human_glans_penis
|archived=
|trans-title=
|language=
|last=
|first=
|init=
|author-link=
|publisher=Encyclopedia of Psychology
|website=
|date=2025
|accessdate=2026-03-16
|format=
|quote=
}}</ref> This is sharply at variance with the reported sensation typically experienced when a man retracts his [[foreskin]] for the first time. It is also at variance with the results later reported by Sorrels et al. (2007)<ref name="sorrels2007">{{REFjournal
|last=Sorrels
|first=
|init=ML
|author-link=
|last2=Snyder
|first2=
|init2=JL
|author2-link=
|last3=Reiss
|first3=
|init3=MD
|author3-link=
|last4=Eden
|first4=
|init4=C
|author4-link=
|last5=Milos
|first5=
|init5=MF
|author5-link=Marilyn Fayre Milos
|last6=Wilcox
|first6=
|init6=N
|author6-link=
|last7=Van Howe
|first7=
|init7=RS
|author7-link=Robert S. Van Howe
|etal=
|title=Fine-touch pressure thresholds in the adult penis
|trans-title=
|language=
|journal=BJU Int
|location=
|date=2007-04
|volume=99
|issue=4
|pages=864-9
|url=https://bjui-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2006.06685.x
|archived=
|quote=
|pubmedID=17378847
|pubmedCID=
|DOI=10.1111/j.1464-410X.2006.06685.x
|accessdate=2026-03-16
}}</ref> Halata & Munger worked by microscopic examination of death tissue samples, so they apparently had no input from living males, which may account for the omission of the strong [[glans]] sensation typically experienced by [[foreskinned]] men.
[[Alfonso Cepeda-Emiliani|Cepeda-Emiliani]] et al. (2023) reported the glans penis has dual innervation from both the dorsal and perineal nerves.<ref name="cepeda2023">{{REFjournal
[[Alfonso Cepeda-Emiliani|Cepeda-Emiliani]] et al. (2023) reported the glans penis has dual innervation from both the dorsal and perineal nerves.<ref name="cepeda2023">{{REFjournal
  |last=Cepe da-Emiliani
  |last=Cepeda-Emiliani
  |first=
  |first=
  |init=A
  |init=A
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<!--Most people are surprised to learn that the glans penis is one of the least sensitive parts of the entire body.<ref name="halata1985">Halata Z, Munger BL. [http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/halata/ The Neuroanatomical basis for the protopathic sensibility of the human glans penis]. ''Brain Res'' 1986 Apr 23;371(2):205-30.</ref>-->
<!--Most people are surprised to learn that the glans penis is one of the least sensitive parts of the entire body.<ref name="halata1985">Halata Z, Munger BL. [http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/halata/ The Neuroanatomical basis for the protopathic sensibility of the human glans penis]. ''Brain Res'' 1986 Apr 23;371(2):205-30.</ref>-->
The glans is insensitive to light touch, heat, cold, and even pinpricks, as researches at the Department of Pathology in the Health Science Centre at the {{UNI|University of Manitoba|UManitoba}} discovered.<ref name="taylor1996">{{TaylorJR LockwoodAP TaylorAJ 1996}}</ref> The corona of the glans contains scattered free nerve endings, genital end bulbs, and pacinian corpuscles, which transmit sensations of pain and deep pressure. The glans is nearly incapable of detecting light touch.
The glans is insensitive to light touch, heat, cold, and even pinpricks, as researches at the Department of Pathology in the [https://hsc.mb.ca/ Health Science Centre] at the {{UNI|University of Manitoba|UManitoba}} discovered.<ref name="taylor1996">{{TaylorJR LockwoodAP TaylorAJ 1996}}</ref> The corona of the glans contains scattered free nerve endings, genital end bulbs, and pacinian corpuscles, which transmit sensations of pain and deep pressure. The glans is nearly incapable of detecting light touch.


An impressive study performed by objective Chinese researchers conclusively demonstrated that [[adult circumcision| circumcision]] reduces the glans sensitivity to vibration. "The test group were 1.97 +/- 0.71, 2.64 +/- 1.38, 3.09 +/-1.46 and 2.97 +/- 1.20 respectively before and 1, 2 and 3 months after circumcision, with significant difference between pre- and post-operation (P < 0.05).<ref name="young2008">{{REFjournal
An impressive study performed by objective Chinese researchers conclusively demonstrated that [[adult circumcision| circumcision]] reduces the glans sensitivity to vibration. "The test group were 1.97 +/- 0.71, 2.64 +/- 1.38, 3.09 +/-1.46 and 2.97 +/- 1.20 respectively before and 1, 2 and 3 months after circumcision, with significant difference between pre- and post-operation (P < 0.05).<ref name="young2008">{{REFjournal
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}}</ref>
}}</ref>


Many [[foreskinned]] men prefer to keep their glans penis covered by their [[intact]] [[foreskin]] except for washing and sex.
The protection provided by the [[foreskin]] prevents [[keratinization]] and helps to maintain sensitivity of the glans penis. [[Foreskinned]] men frequently report that they feel pain when their glans penis is touched with their fingers, so many [[foreskinned]] men prefer to keep their glans penis covered by their [[intact]] [[foreskin]] except for occasional washing and sexual activity.


==The glans penis after circumcision of the protective foreskin==
==The glans penis after circumcision of the protective foreskin==
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There is a paucity of scientific study of the [[restored]] penis, so this information is based on the experience of many [[restored]] men.
There is a paucity of scientific study of the [[restored]] penis, so this information is based on the experience of many [[restored]] men.


Some men have reported that, after the glans penis is covered by a restored foreskin, they experienced peeling of a layer of [[keratin]] similar to the peeling that occurs after sunburn, however that is only the beginning of restoration of the glans penis.
Some men have reported that, after the glans penis is covered by a [[restored foreskin]], they experienced peeling of a layer of [[keratin]] similar to the peeling that occurs after sunburn, however that is only the beginning of restoration of the glans penis.


As [[foreskin restoration]] proceeds and more foreskin is available, the [[restored foreskin]] will start to cover the glans penis and the glans penis usually is bathed with natural skin oil and moisture by [[transudation]] in a manner similar to an [[intact]] [[penis]]. Over a period of several years, [[dekeratinization]] will continue and the [[glans]] will become softer, glossier, and more sensitive. There usually will be a return to more normal color. One cannot say how long this process will take due to a lack of data.
As [[foreskin restoration]] proceeds and more foreskin is available, the [[restored foreskin]] will start to cover the glans penis and the glans penis usually is bathed with natural skin oil and moisture by [[transudation]] in a manner similar to an [[intact]] [[penis]]. Over a period of several years, [[dekeratinization]] will continue and the glans will become softer, glossier, and more sensitive. There usually will be a return to more normal color. One cannot say how long this process will take due to a lack of data.


Excessive washing of the restored [[preputial sac]] removes oil and should be avoided.<ref name="birley1993">{{REFjournal
Excessive washing of the restored [[preputial sac]] removes oil and should be avoided.<ref name="birley1993">{{REFjournal
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* [[Sexual effects of circumcision]]
* [[Sexual effects of circumcision]]
{{LINKS}}
{{LINKS}}
* {{REFjournal
* {{REFweb
|last=Halata
  |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/penisquestion/comments/1pw41qb/is_it_normal_for_the_head_of_my_penis_to_be/
|first=
  |title=Is it normal for the head of my penis to be really sensitive?
|init=Z
  |last=Anonymous
|author-link=
  |publisher=Reddit
|last2=Munger
  |date=2025-12
|first2=
  |accessdate=2026-03-16
|init2=BL
|author2-link=
|etal=no
|title=The Neuroanatomical Basis for the Protopathic Sensibility of the Human Glans Penis
|trans-title=
|language=
|journal=Brain Research
|date=1986-04-23
|volume=371
|issue=2
|pages=205-30
  |url=https://www.academia.edu/26875202/The_neuroanatomical_basis_for_the_protopathic_sensibility_of_the_human_glans_penis
  |quote=
  |pubmedID=3697758
  |pubmedCID=
  |DOI=https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(86)90357-4
  |accessdate=2025-10-23
}}
}}
{{REF}}
{{REF}}
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