Objections of a Sentimental Character: The Subjective Dimensions of Foreskin Loss.

Proponents of routine circumcision of male minors tend to downplay or ignore the adverse effects of circumcision on male sexual experience and to assert that only an insignificant minority of circumcised men are unhappy about their condition. We present evidence dating back to the nineteenth century that significant numbers of men have been sufficiently concerned to complain, and we particularly consider three attitude surveys carried out in Britain, the USA and Australia in the 1990s. We argue for the relevance of ethical, biological and subjective factors in decision- making about routine circumcision of minors, and conclude with a discussion of the implications of these considerations for medical policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]