A Circumcised Penis is Not Necessarily Cleaner

Circumcision is said to promote good penile hygiene, but even a circumcised man has to wash his willy if he wants to avoid infection. The myth that circumcision is cleaner comes from the fact that a substance can accumulate beneath the foreskin. This is called smegma, which is wrongfully considered unclean. Fresh smegma is very clean, a combination of oils, dead skin, and antibodies. The foreskin is believed to provide an ideal environment for bacteria colonization, but the antibodies in fresh smegma actually prevent this from occurring.

When smegma is allowed to accumulate unchecked, this can be unclean and unhealthy. Any penis that is not appropriately washed is at risk of infection. Dirt and bacteria can collect under the foreskin just as it can collect on the scrotum or pubic hair. Simply rinsing your penis in warm water can eliminate the build-up and destroy a lot of the germs that may be hiding out there. It is true that if an intact man does not wash his penis, he is inviting infection, but this is true of any man who does not appropriately bathe. Good hygiene is crucial for the health of every person in this world.

Researchers have tried to prove that the foreskin provides a way for germs causing UTI, HPV, HIV, and various other ailments to invade. The truth is that these things can be absorbed through membranes in the penis, foreskin or not. The studies done have been flawed at best, and most medical organizations agree that the data is inconclusive to proclaim that circumcision has any disease-preventing benefits. People have tried to say that circumcising a penis makes it easier to keep clean, decreasing risk of infection. There is little evidence to support this, but surmounting evidence that proves it false.