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{{Construction Site}} '''Alexithymia''' is a word used to describe "people who have difficulties recognizing, processing, and regulating emotions." Alexithymia is considered to be a ''personality trait'', not a mental disorder. Alexithymia occurs in more males than females. Alexithymia occurs frequently with other disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and [[post-traumatic stress disorder ]] (PTSD)<ref>{{REFweb

The higher percentage of alexithymia in males as compared with females and the occurrence of it with other disorders associated with non-therapeutic infant [[circumcision ]] such as autism spectrum disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder suggest that infant circumcision may be a contributing factor.

[[Dan Bollinger |Bollinger]] & [[Robert S. Van Howe|Van Howe ]] (2011) conducted a preliminary survey of 300 men, of which 64 were [[intact ]] (21.3%) and 236 (78.67%) were circumcised.<ref name="bollinger2011">{{REFjournal

The men were tested using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. [[Circumcised ]] men had ALEX scores (19.9%) higher than the [[intact ]] men.

It also emerged that [[circumcised ]] men are much more likely to experience erectile dysfunction as compared with [[intact ]] men.

[[Dan Bollinger |Bollinger]] & [[Robert S. Van Howe|Van Howe ]] (2011) concluded:<blockquote>In this self-selected, self-reporting group of 300 men, alexithymia was statistically significant for having experienced circumcision [[trauma]]. The circumcised men were 1.57 times more likely to have High ALEX scores and 2.30 times less likely to have Low ALEX scores. The age-adjusted, average ALEX score for the [[circumcised ]] men was 6.40 points (19.9%) higher than for [[intact ]] men. … The circumcised men were 4.53 times more likely to use an erectile dysfunction drug.<ref name="bollinger2011" />

This preliminary investigation by [[Dan Bollinger |Bollinger]] & [[Robert S. Van Howe|Van Howe ]] has established an association between [[circumcision ]] and alexithymia, however it is inadequate to establish cause and effect. More investigation is needed.