Circumcision of the Penis & Vulva

Circumcision involves the removal of parts of the genitals. Circumcision is a topic that is often discussed, as it affects millions of people worldwide. The decision or necessity to undergo circumcision can have very different reasons: cultural, religious, medical, or even cosmetic.

Penile circumcision is the removal of the foreskin. It is performed worldwide for various reasons    Schöfer, H. (2015). Zirkumzision des Mannes aus infektiologischer Sicht. Der Hautarzt, 66(1), 30–37. doi.org:

The procedure can be performed on children or adults. In the case of children, the parents can decide as long as the child's welfare is not harmed. In debates about male circumcision, procedures that are not medically necessary are sometimes criticized because they are performed without the child’s consent. You can read more about this in this article in the Deutsches Ärzteblatt. Once children understand what the procedure entails, they must be involved in the decision. This is usually the case from around the age of 14. From the age of 18, each person can decide for themselves. Circumcision is generally safe, but like any surgical procedure, it carries risks such as pain, infection, or bleeding. There are higher risks if the circumcision is not performed by medical personnel. If, for example, the foreskin is not completely removed, a second procedure may be necessary. In addition, heavy bleeding or infections may occur. A lack of follow-up care delays the healing process and may necessitate further operations    Boakye, S. A., & Obeng, F. (2025, February 3). Clinical outcomes of circumcisions and prevalence of complications of male circumcisions: A five-year retrospective analysis at a teaching hospital in Ghana. PLOS Global Public Health. doi.org.

It is, therefore, important to have circumcision performed by experts under hygienic conditions. This helps to ensure that the procedure can be carried out without any major complications.

Psychological consequences range from having no impact to causing trauma. Non-medical, non-consensual procedures performed on children without anesthesia and without the opportunity to process the experience appear to be particularly high-risk.    Boyle, G. J. (2002). El Trastorno por Estrés Postraumático (PTSD) de Larga Duración como Resultado de Cirugía Genital en Menores. Revista de Psicología, 11(1), ág. 17-24. doi.org. In other cases, people report positive effects, such as reduced pain.

It is therefore important that circumcision is performed by experts under hygienic conditions.

After undergoing circumcision, it is generally possible to resume sexual activity after approximately three weeks. Some circumsized individuals report changes in their orgasms afterwards. Most studies find no adverse effects on libido, erection, orgasm, penile sensitivity, or sexual satisfaction as a result of penile circumcision.    Morris, B. J., & Krieger, J. N. (2013). Does male circumcision affect sexual function, sensitivity, or satisfaction?—A systematic review. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 10(11), 2644–2657. doi.org    Tian, Y., Liu, W., Wang, J.-Z., Wazir, R., Yue, X., & Wang, K.-J. (2013). Effects of circumcision on male sexual functions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Asian Journal of Andrology, 15(5), 662–666. doi.org

In contrast to circumcision of the penis, circumcision of the vulva is generally known as female genital mutilation or female genital cutting (FGM/C). This involves removing or altering parts of the external genitals of girls or women    World Health Organization. (2025, January 31). Female genital mutilation. www.who.int. This usually takes place during childhood. FGM/C is practiced in some cultures around the world, usually under unhygienic conditions and without anesthesia, and is therefore dangerous from a medical point of view and has been rejected by the World Health Organization. This circumcision takes place without the consent or against the will of the woman/child concerned, and there is no medical reason for it   Berg, R. C., Denison, E., & Fretheim, A. (2010). Psychological, Social and Sexual Consequences of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C): A Systematic Review of Quantitative Studies. Knowledge Centre for the Health Services at The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH). www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. The stated goal in countries where circumcision is traditional is to prevent sexual pleasure in women.

In some communities, FGM/C is an ancient tradition. No global religion supports FGM/C.

The consequences can be severe: severe pain, infections, complications during pregnancy and childbirth, and often long-term sexual problems. FGM/C is prohibited in many countries.    World Health Organization. (2025, January 31). Female genital mutilation. www.who.int