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In the genitally intact penis the urine stream flushes out the urethra and foreskin of foreign microbes. In healthy individuals, urine is sterile and has a disinfectant quality. Researchers have demonstrated that the swirling action of urine as it rushes through the foreskin flushes it out effortlessly and naturally.<ref name="parkash-jeykumar1973">Parkash S, Jeykumar S, Subramanyan K, Chaudhuri S. Human Subpreputial collection: its nature and formation. ''J Urol'' 1973 Aug 110(2):211-2</ref>
Though urine passes through the foreskin every day, the inner foreskin is remarkably free of urea — a by-product of liver metabolism that is secreted in urine. Studies demonstrate that washings from the foreskin are rich in fructose, acid phosphatase, and mucin, but never urea. It appears that the secretions of seminal vesicles, prostate, and urethral mucous glands, collectively or individually, keep the foreskin clear and clean as well.<ref>Parkash S. Penis: some facts and fancies. ''Journal of Physician's Association 0f Madras'' June 1982: pp.1-13.</ref>
At birth, the foreskin is usually attached to the glans(head) of the penis, akin to how a fingernail is attached to a finger.<ref>Diebert GA. The separation of the prepuce in the human penis. ''Anatomical Record'' 1993 Nov;57(4):387-99.</ref>
At infancy the foreskins tubular neck(prepucial orifice) is often long and narrow while the sphincter muscle in the tip of the foreskin keeps its opening closed. This acts as an extension of the urethra.<ref>Hunter RH. Notes on the development of the prepuce. ''Journal of Anatomy'' 1935 Oct;70(1):6875.</ref> <ref>Glenister TW. A consideration of their process involved in the development of the prepuce in man. ''Br J Urol'' 1956 Sep;28(3):243-9.</ref>
Together, these properties prevent the entry of contaminants.
The idea that the foreskin is "dirty" or "unclean" is a scientifically unfounded superstition. The intact penis is naturally clean and maintains a level of hygiene that is optimal when compared to a penis that has been altered by circumcision.
and sebaceous glands,<ref>Hyman AB, Brownstein MH. Tyson's "glands": ectopic sebaceous glands and papillomatosis penis. ''Arch Dermatol'' 1969 Jan;99(1):31-6</ref> <ref>Delbanco E. Über das gehäufte Aufreten von Talgdrusen an der Innerflähe des Präputium. ''Monatshefte für praktishe Dermatologie'' 1904; 38:536-8.</ref> <ref>Piccinno R, Carrel C-F, Menni S. ''et al''. sebacous glands mimicking molluscum contagiosum ''Acta Derm Venerol'' 1990;70:344-5.</ref> <ref>Krompecher St. Die Histologie der Absonderung fur Smegma Praeputi. ''Anatomischer Anzeiger'' 1932; 75:170-176.</ref>, collectively secrete emolliating lubricants.<ref>Parkash S, Jeykumar S, Subramanyan K, Chaudhuri S. Human Subpreputial collection: its nature and formation. ''J Urol'' 1973 Aug 110(2):211-2.</ref> Apocrine glans perform a crucial function by secreting enzymes such as lysosomal enzymes, cathepsin B, chymotrypsin, and neutrophil elastase.<ref>Frohlich E Shamburg-Lever G, Klesses C. Immunelectron microscopic localization of cathepsin B in human apocrine glands. ''J Cutan Pathol'' 1993 Feb;20(1):54-60</ref>
There is also strong research to suggest that lysozyme can protect against HIV infection'
<ref>George Hill . [http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/HIV/hill1/ Summary of evidence that the foreskin and lysozyme may protect against HIV infection]. 7 September 2003. </ref>
Apocrine glands also produce cytokine,<ref>Ahmed AA, Nordlind K, Schultzberd M, Liden S. Immunohisto chemical localization of IL-1 alpha-, IL-1 beta-, IL-6- and TNF-alpha-like immunoreactivities in human apocrine glands Arch</ref>
which is a very important nonantibody protein that generates immune response when in contact with specific agents.
It is also very important to note that Langerhans cells that are present in the foreskin produce ''Langerin'', a substance that has been proven to kill the HI-virus on contact.<ref> de Witte L, Nabatov A, Pion M, ''et al''. [http://www.cirp.org/news/healthday2007-03-05/ Langerin is a natural barrier to HIV-1 transmission by Langerhans cells]. ''Nat Med'' 2007 Mar;13(3):367-71.</ref>
All of these function to sequester and “digest” foreign pathogens. All these substances play an important role in protecting the penis from viral and bacterial pathogens. The immunological functions of the human prepuce have been extensively documented by respected researchers for quite some time.<ref>P M FleissPM, F M HodgesFM, R S Van HoweRS. [http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/STD/fleiss3/ Immunological functions of the human prepuce]. ''SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONSSex Trans Infect'' (London), Volume 74, Number 5, Pages 364-367, October 1998.http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/STD/fleiss3/</ref>
In infancy, simple sugars in breast milk, like antibacterial oligosaccharides, are acquired from the mothers milk and excreted in urine. University studies have shown that these substances cling to the mucosal lining of the inner foreskin and protect against urinary tract infections,<ref>Hanson LA, Karlsson B, Jalil F, ''et al''. Antiviral and antibacterial factors in human milk. In: Hanson LA, ed. ''Biology of Human Milk''. New York Raven Press; 1988. pp. 141-57</ref> as well as infections in other parts of the body. <ref>Coppa GV, Gabrielli O, Giorgi P, Catassi C, Montanari MP, Veraldo PE, Nichols BL. Preliminary study of breast feeding and bacterial adhesion to uroepithelial cells. ''Lancet'' 1990 Mar 10;335(8689):569-71.</ref>Babies excrete in their urine about 300-500 milligrams of oligosaccharides each day. These compounds prevent virulent strains of Escherichia coli from adhering to the mucosal lining of the entire urinary tract, including the foreskin and glans.For these reasons breast-milk is highly efficacious at preventing UTI.<ref>Gothefors L, Olling S, Winberg J. Breastfeeding and biological properties of faecal E. coli strains. ''Acta Paediatr Scand'' 1975 Nov;54(6):807-12.</ref>Rigorous study's have repeatedly demonstrated that breast feeding protects against urinary tract infections.<ref>Mårild S. Breastfeeding and Urinary Tract Infections. ''Lancet'' 1990;336:942. </ref><ref>Pisacane A, ''et al''. Breastfeeding and urinary tract infection. ''The Lancet'', July 7, 1990, p50 </ref><ref>Pisacane A, Graziano L, Mazzarella G, ''et al''. Breast-feeding and urinary tract infection. ''J Pediatr'' 1992;120:87-89.</ref>Researchers have shown that premature foreskin retraction can expose the penis to hospital strains of Escherichia coli and can result in UTI.<ref>Winberg J ''et al''. The Prepuce: A Mistake of Nature? ''Lancet'' 1989, pp.598-99.</ref>Hence the protective function of the foreskin is in the child's best interest especially during chemically treated diaper wearing years where feces mixed with urine can not only contaminate the permanently exposed urinary meatus but also the amputation wound from the circumcision surgery itself.
It is important to note that women have a higher risk of UTI. This is because the shorter urethra offers less protection via the immunological function of the urethra's mucosal lining. By the same observation we see that the tubular tip of the foreskin and its mucosal lining act as an extension of the urethra, hence providing more of that same protection via mucosa immunology and the adherence of antibacterial substances in breast milk. Understandably, removal of the foreskin destroys all this functionality.