The stigma surroundingI (un)circumcision?!

The stigma surroundingI (un)circumcision?

I'm sixteen and uncircumcised but I don't seem to have the typical uncircumcised penis. When I turned about twelve my foreskin began to recede and now it never covers the head of my penis at all. When I am not erect there is only a thin band of skin below my head and when I am erect there is no excess skin. It's almost like I am circumcised, but what I'm alluding to is that being in highschool there seems to be this big stigma surrounding uncircumcised males about the gross stuff that collects and such but this has never been a problem for me.

I've been asked if I am before and I'm not sure what to say because though I technically am not, I might as well be and don't feel like sitting there and explaining what I've told you along with the benefits such as heightened pleasure etc.

When I was in junior high I wanted to be circumcised so badly because it seemed like such a bad thing to not be, not wanting it for myself but for other people really... please share your thoughts...

No, you don't have a typical uncircumcised penis, but it's normal. It just seems like your penis "outgrew" your foreskin. Some guys (not many) have really short foreskins like you, whereas others have foreskins long enough to cover an erection; most guys have foreskins somewhere in between.

I'm assuming you're from the US, and the stigma that the foreskin is unclean or gross is a result of several generations of people who grew up not knowing what a foreskin is, so when they encounter one they think it's weird, foreign, and dirty. In actuality, the uncircumcised penis is very easy to clean and keep clean (particularly in your case) if one knows what to do (link 1). It's a really stupid stigma that doesn't hold up if you actually know anything.

If people ask you if you're circumcised or not, just say you're uncircumcised but that you have a very short foreskin. Regardless of how much foreskin you have, there are nerve endings in the foreskin that'll make you more sensitive (link 2). Also there are studies that seem to say that the foreskin is a good thing in the sexual satisfaction/pleasure of both the guy and girl (links 3, 4, 5).

So while in your case your glans (penis head) might be desensitized a bit because you don't have enough foreskin to cover it, and during an erection it may seem like you don't have "excess skin," you probably have enough skin that you can pull your foreskin back and forth over to almost the end of your glans during an erection. That's all you really need and some people might say you have "the best of both worlds." If you want, you can lengthen your foreskin by doing the same things that some circumcised guys do to "restore" their foreskins; but it takes months to years and if you're satisfied with what you have, it's probably not worth it.

While I've felt (a little) out of place because I'm uncircumcised, I've never wanted to be circumcised. Never saw the point and I couldn't imagine being so, as the foreskin is nice to have I think. In any case, the circumcision rate in the US has fallen to 60% nationally (with that rate being much higher/lower depending on the state) and about 70-80% of the world's male population is uncircumcised. Suddenly, I don't feel so out of place and you shouldn't either.

So enjoy what you've got (you're fairly unique, as far as circumcised/uncircumcised goes). You can lengthen your foreskin so the glans can be more sensitive, but it might be worth your time. And stop worrying what others think because know that more and more guys are like you.