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The Lost List
Thanks to Gary Harryman for putting
this together
Many people think circumcision removes nothing more than a little extra
skin. The truth is that circumcision removes several critical components
of male sexual anatomy. This list enumerates everything currently known
to be lost when one is circumcised. Included are notes on whether these
losses can or cannot be amended by foreskin restoration.
The information contained in this list may be upsetting to some,
but we feel it is important and necessary for those considering
restoration to understand as fully as possible the
anatomy/biology/neurology of what has been removed and/or destroyed.
It should be pointed out that circumcisions performed in North
America may be more severe than those done elsewhere. In the United
States, most hospital circumcisions are done to the Bris Periah standard
of removing of the foreskin and, in some cases,
some shaft skin.
Although several of the items in this list are not restorable, there
are many significant gains to be realized by restoring one's foreskin.
For information on these gains, please see the Benefits
page.
Please note that although circumcision and foreskin restoration
involve issues of physical health and well-being, nothing appearing
on this website is intended to be medical advice. If you want
medical advice or have a medical problem, contact a doctor.
Foreskin
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The foreskin comprises roughly 50% (and sometimes
more) of the mobile skin system of the penis. If unfolded and
spread out flat, the average adult foreskin would measure about
15 square inches - the size of a three-by-five index card. This
highly specialized tissue normally covers the glans and protects
it from abrasion, drying, callusing (also called keratinization),
and contaminants of all kinds.
Click
here to view an animated graphic illustrating foreskin mobility.
 We
refer to the process we undergo as foreskin restoration
but we don't actually grow new foreskins. What we do instead is
to extend the remaining skin on the shaft of the penis. The
non-surgical techniques we use induce the skin to grow
additional cells, and over a period of time the shaft skin will
gradually extend to cover the glans. The extended skin looks and
behaves and functions much like a natural foreskin.
[Sources: 1. M. M. Lander, "The
Human Prepuce," in G. C. Denniston and M. F. Milos, eds., Sexual
Mutilations: A Human Tragedy (New York: Plenum Press, 1997),
79-81. 2. M. Davenport, "Problems
with the Penis and Prepuce: Natural History of the Foreskin,"
British Medical Journal 312 (1996): 299-301.]
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Frenar Band,
or
Ridged Band |
The frenar band is a group of soft ridges near the
junction of the inner and outer foreskin. This region is the
primary erogenous zone of the intact male body. Loss of this
delicate belt of densely innervated, sexually responsive tissue
reduces the fullness and intensity of sexual response.
 There is
no known method of restoring the frenar band.
[Source: Taylor, J. R. et al., "The
Prepuce: Specialized Mucosa of the Penis and Its Loss to
Circumcision," British Journal of Urology 77 (1996):
291-295.]
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| Gliding Action |
The foreskin's gliding action is a hallmark
feature of the normal, natural, intact penis. This non-abrasive
gliding of the penis in and out of its own shaft skin
facilitates smooth, comfortable, pleasurable intercourse for
both partners. Without this gliding action, the corona of the
circumcised penis can function as a one-way valve, making
artificial lubricants necessary for comfortable intercourse.
The
return of this natural gliding action is one of the primary
benefits of foreskin restoration. In many cases, wives of
restoring men were initially doubtful about restoration but came
to value it highly when their husbands had grown enough new skin
to effect greater levels of comfort and pleasure during
intercourse.
[Source: P. M. Fleiss, MD, MPH, "The
Case Against Circumcision," Mothering: The Magazine of
Natural Family Living (Winter 1997): 36-45.]
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| Meissner's
Corpuscles |
Circumcision removes the most important sensory
component of the foreskin - thousands of coiled fine-touch
receptors called Meissner's corpuscles. Also lost are branches
of the dorsal nerve, and between 10,000 and 20,000 specialized
erotogenic nerve endings of several types. Together these detect
subtle changes in motion and temperature, as well as fine
gradations in texture.
There is
no known method of restoring Meissner's corpuscles or other
specialized sensory nerve cells. However, restoring and restored
men almost universally experience tremendous increases in
sensitivity, in part because the highly sensitive nerve cells in
the glans are no longer buried under several layers of
keratinized skin.
[Sources: 1. R. K. Winkelmann,
"The
Erogenous Zones: Their Nerve Supply and Its Significance,"
Proceedings of the Staff Meetings of the Mayo Clinic 34 (1959):
39-47. 2. R. K. Winkelmann, "The
Cutaneous Innervation of Human Newborn Prepuce,"
Journal of Investigative Dermatology 26 (1956): 53-67.]
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| Frenulum |
The frenulum is a highly erogenous V-shaped
structure on the underside of the glans that tethers the
foreskin. During circumcision it is frequently either amputated
with the foreskin or severed, which destroys or diminishes its
sexual and physiological functions.
If the
frenulum is amputated, there is no known method of replacing it.
If only a small portion of the frenulum is left, it is probably
no longer functional as a tethering structure. There is no known
method of attaching it to a restored foreskin, but some men have
reported stretching the frenulum remnant as they stretched their
foreskin.
[Sources: 1. Cold, C, Taylor, J,
"The Prepuce," BJU International 83, Suppl. 1, (1999):
34-44. 2. Kaplan, G.W., "Complications
of Circumcision," Urologic Clinics of North America 10,
1983.]
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| Dartos Fascia |
Circumcision removes approximately half of this
temperature-sensitive smooth muscle sheath which lies between
the outer layer of skin and the corpus cavernosa.
There is no known
method of restoring amputated portions of the dartos fascia.
However, the new skin may duplicate dartos fascia muscle tissue
if it is present in the remnant skin that is being stretched.
[Source: Netter, F.H., "Atlas
of Human Anatomy," Second Edition (Novartis, 1997):
Plates 234, 329, 338, 354, 355.]
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| Immunological
System |
The soft mucosa (inner
foreskin) contains its own immunological defense system which
produces plasma cells. These cells secrete immunoglobulin
antibodies as well as antibacterial and antiviral proteins,
including the pathogen killing enzyme lysozyme.
Once removed with
the foreskin, there is no known method of restoring this
immunological defense system.
[Sources: 1. A. Ahmed and A. W.
Jones, "Apocrine Cystadenoma: A Report of Two Cases
Occurring on the Prepuce," British Journal of Dermatology
81 (1969): 899-901. 2. P. J. Flower et al., "An
Immunopathologic Study of the Bovine Prepuce," Veterinary
Pathology 20 (1983):189-202.]
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| Lymphatic
Vessels |
The loss of these
vessels due to circumcision reduces the lymph flow within that
part of the body's immune system.
While some lymphatic
vessels remain, there is no known method of restoring those that
were removed during circumcision.
[Source: Netter, F.H., "Atlas
of Human Anatomy," Second Edition (Novartis, 1997):
plate 379.]
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| Estrogen
Receptors |
The presence of estrogen
receptors within the foreskin has only recently been discovered.
Their purpose is not yet understood and needs further study.
There is no known
method of restoring the foreskin's estrogen receptors.
[Source: R. Hausmann et al., "The
Forensic Value of the Immunohistochemical Detection of Oestrogen
Receptors in Vaginal Epithelium," International Journal of
Legal Medicine 109 (1996): 10-30.]
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| Apocrine
Glands |
These glands of the
inner foreskin produce pheromones - nature's powerful, silent,
invisible behavioral signals to potential sexual partners. The
effect of their absence on human sexuality has never been
studied.
There is no known
method of restoring apocrine glands to the penis.
[Source: A. Ahmed and A. W. Jones, "Apocrine
Cystadenoma: A Report of Two Cases Occurring on the
Prepuce," British Journal of Dermatology 81 (1969):
899-901.]
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| Sebaceous
Glands |
The sebaceous glands may
lubricate and moisturize the foreskin and glans, which is
normally a protected internal organ. Not all men have sebaceous
glands on their inner foreskin.
There is no known
method of restoring sebaceous glands if they were present..
[Source: A. B. Hyman and M. H. Brownstein,
"Tyson's Glands: Ectopic Sebaceous Glands and
Papillomatosis Penis," Archives of Dermatology 99 (1969):
31-37.]
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| Langerhans
Cells |
These specialized
epithelial cells are a component of the immune system in the
penis.
There is no known
method of restoring Langerhans cells to the penis.
[Source: G. N. Weiss et al., "The
Distribution and Density of Langerhans Cells in the Human
Prepuce: Site of a Diminished Immune Response?" Israel
Journal of Medical Sciences 29 (1993): 42-43.]
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| Natural
Glans Coloration |
The natural coloration
of the glans and inner foreskin (usually hidden and only visible
to others when sexually aroused) is considerably more intense
than the permanently exposed and keratinized coloration of a
circumcised penis. The socio-biological function of this visual
stimulus has never been studied.
The glans ranges from pink to red to dark purple among intact
men of Northern European ancestry, and from pinkish to mahagony
to dark brown among intact men of Color. If circumcision is
performed on an infant or young boy, the connective tissue which
protectively fuses the foreskin and glans together is ripped
apart. This leaves the glans raw and subject to infection,
scarring, pitting, shrinkage, and eventual discoloration. Over a
period of years the glans becomes keratinized, adding additional
layers of tissue in order to adequately protect itself, which
further contributes to discoloration.
Many
restoring men report dramatic changes in glans color and
appearance, and that these changes closely mirror the natural
coloration and smooth, glossy appearance of the glans seen in
intact men.
[Source: P. M. Fleiss, MD, MPH, "The
Case Against Circumcision," Mothering: The Magazine of
Natural Family Living (Winter 1997): 36-45.]
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| Length
and Circumference |
Circumcision removes
some of the length and girth of the penis - its double-layered
wrapping of loose and usually overhanging foreskin is removed. A
circumcised penis is truncated and thinner than it would have
been if left intact.
Many men
have kept detailed records of their measurements before, during,
and after restoration. There is an increasing consensus that
foreskin restoration enhances penile length and circumference.
[Source: R. D. Talarico and J. E. Jasaitis,
"Concealed Penis: A Complication of Neonatal
Circumcision," Journal of Urology 110 (1973): 732-733.]
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| Blood
Vessels |
Several feet of blood
vessels, including the frenular artery and branches of the
dorsal artery, are removed in circumcision. The loss of this
rich vascularization interrupts normal blood flow to the shaft
and glans of the penis, damaging the natural function of the
penis and altering its development.
There is no known
method of restoring arteries and vessels that were removed
during circumcision. However, many restoring men have noticed
that the new skin is more richly vascularized than the older
skin of their penis. We have no medical explanation for this
phenomenon.
[Sources: 1. H. C. Bazett et
al., "Depth,
Distribution and Probable Identification in the Prepuce of
Sensory End-Organs Concerned in Sensations of Temperature and
Touch; Thermometric Conductivity," Archives of
Neurology and Psychiatry 27 (1932): 489-517. 2. Netter,
F.H., "Atlas
of Human Anatomy," Second Edition (Novartis, 1997):
plates 238, 239.]
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| Dorsal Nerves |
The terminal branch of the pudendal nerve connects
to the skin of the penis, the prepuce, the corpora cavernosa,
and the glans. Destruction of these nerves is a rare but
devastating complication of circumcision. If cut during
circumcision, the top two-thirds of the penis will be almost
completely without sensation.
There is
no known method of restoring dorsal nerves.
[Sources: 1. Agur, A.M.R. ed.,
"Grant's
Atlas of Anatomy," Ninth Edition (Williams and Wilkins,
1991): 188-190. 2. Netter, F.H., "Atlas
of Human Anatomy," Second Edition (Novartis, 1997):
plate 380, 387.]
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| Other
Losses |
•
Circumcision performed during infancy disrupts the bonding
process between child and mother. There are indications that
the innate sense of trust in intimate human contact is
inhibited or lost. It can also have significant adverse effects
on neurological development. Additionally, an infant's self-confidence
and hardiness is diminished by forcing the newborn victim
into a defensive psychological state of "learned
helplessness" or
"acquired passivity" to cope with the excruciating
pain which he can
neither fight nor flee. The trauma of this early pain lowers a
circumcised boy's pain threshold below that of intact boys and
girls
[Sources: 1. R. Goldman, Circumcision:
The Hidden Trauma (Boston: Vanguard Publications, 1997),
139-175. 2. A. Taddio et al., "Effect
of Neonatal Circumcision on Pain Responses during Vaccination in
Boys," Lancet 345 (1995): 291-292.]
• Every year some boys lose their entire
penises from circumcision accidents and infections. They are
then "sexually reassigned" by castration and
transgender surgery, and are expected to live their lives as
females.
[Sources: 1. J. P. Gearhart and
J. A. Rock, "Total Ablation of the Penis after Circumcision
with Electrocautery: A Method of Management and Long-Term
Followup," Journal of Urology 142 (1989):799-801. 2.
M. Diamond and H. K. Sigmundson, "Sex Reassignment at
Birth: Long-Term Review and Clinical Implications,"
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 151 (1997):
298-304.]
• Every year many boys in the United
States and elsewhere lose their lives as a result of
circumcision - a fact that is routinely ignored or obscured.
[Sources: 1. G. W. Kaplan,
"Complications
of Circumcision," Urologic Clinics of North America 10
(1983): 543-549. 2. R. S. Thompson, "Routine
Circumcision in the Newborn: An Opposing View," Journal of
Family Practice 31 (1990): 189-196.
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