Dear Missditz,

There may be a difference between what is sexually pleasing to a guy who is circumcised and a guy who is not. But first, let's talk about what circumcision is. All healthy boys are born with a foreskin. It's the skin that covers the glans (head) of the penis. Circumcision (or removal of the foreskin) is generally done shortly after birth. In the United States, the majority of boys are circumcised. But in many other countries, the majority is not. Circumcision is usually done for cultural reasons. In most cases, it has no health benefits.

So, how might sex play be different if a guy has a foreskin? The head of the penis of a guy who has a foreskin may be very sensitive to touch and/or pressure. So, he may not want it pulled back during sex play because it feels too uncomfortable. On the other hand, there are guys who prefer that their foreskin be pulled back to expose the glans during sex play. Your question points out how very important it is to find out what a partner prefers — because everybody is different.

Both penises with and without foreskins work the same way — they just look a little different. But guys who have uncircumcised penises need to pull the foreskin back when they put on a condom and wash themselves — whether uncircumcised or circumcised, proper cleaning of the glans and shaft of the penis is important.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.