Circumcised Vs Uncircumcised: Size, Look, Sexual Function, And More

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HealthlineSubscribeKey Differences Between Circumsised and Uncircumsised Penis

Medically reviewed by Darragh O'Carroll, MD — Written by Tim Jewell — Updated on May 2, 2025

Size
Appearance
Hygiene
Sexual sensitivity
Lubrication
Fertility
Risk of infection
Risk of cancer
Takeaway

The main difference between a circumcised (cut) and uncircumcised (uncut) penis is the presence of foreskin around the head of the penis. Both options can affect hygiene and overall health.

Circumcision refers to the surgical removal of the skin covering the head of the penis, known as foreskin.

In the United States, almost 8 out of 10 people with a penis are circumcised. This may be done for religious, cultural, social, and medical purposes, amongst others.

Although circumcision is much more common in newborns, adults may also get circumcised.

Read on to learn more about how circumcision can affect the appearance of your penis, sexual function, and more.

Does it affect penis size?

Your penis size is based mainly on your genes. These determine the phenotype, or physical expression, of your penis.

An uncircumcised (uncut) penis can appear slightly bigger, longer, and bulkier than a circumcised (cut) penis when it’s flaccid (soft) because of the foreskin. The foreskin measures around one-third of the penis length.

During an erection, however, the foreskin retracts and almost disappears, so it won’t affect how big a penis looks when it’s erect (hard).

Penis size is also based on blood flow to the penile tissues. Removing a layer of skin tissue — the foreskin — doesn’t have any effect on other penile tissues or how big your penis appears when erect.

However, it may have slightly less bulk when it’s flaccid.

Does it affect the overall appearance?

The biggest difference in appearance is at the tip of the penis, where the foreskin is.

Uncircumcised

In an uncircumcised penis, the foreskin drapes over the head (glans) of the penis like a hood when you’re not erect. The penis head largely isn’t visible.

When you’re erect, the foreskin retracts and exposes the glans. The foreskin usually looks bunched up.

Circumcised

In a circumcised penis, the foreskin is absent. This leaves the glans out in the open at all times, whether you’re erect or not. You may notice a slight difference in skin texture where the foreskin was removed.

The skin closer to your body may feel tougher and thicker, while the skin closer to the glans may be thinner and more sensitive.

Does it affect your approach to hygiene?

Experts report that in the United States, 50% of people choose for a newborn child with a penis to get circumcised for hygiene and medical purposes. Around 30% do so for family preferences and 15% for religious purposes.

Uncircumcised

An uncircumcised penis usually requires some extra attention to hygiene because bacteria, dead skin cells, and oil may cause smegma to build up under the foreskin.

Smegma is a thick, unpleasant buildup of dead skin cells that can have a very unpleasant odor. It could also lead to balanitis (foreskin inflammation), which can make pulling back your foreskin difficult or impossible (phimosis).

Phimosis and balanitis can both require medical attention if left untreated.

It’s important to note, however, that this pertains to adults only. Before the age of 10 years, it may be difficult to fully retract the foreskin. It should never be forcibly retracted, even for cleaning.

Circumcised

A cut penis doesn’t require additional hygiene. Just make sure you wash it regularly when you bathe.

However, without the foreskin, the glans may be more likely to get dry, chafed, or irritated. You can help prevent this by wearing loose-fitting underwear and avoiding tight pants.

Does it affect sexual sensitivity?

Research on how circumcision affects sexual sensitivity, pleasure, and function is mixed.

Uncircumcised

Some research from 2016 suggests the foreskin may be the part of the penis most sensitive to stimulation by touch in uncircumcised penises.

It may help stimulate the glans (penis tip) during sexual activity by sliding up and down the shaft. It could also help protect the glans. In a circumcised penis, on the other hand, the glans may thicken over time, due to friction, and this can cause it to lose sensitivity.

Circumcised

A 2020 review of 94 publications found that the underside of the penis shaft and the glans contain the neurological pathways associated with sexual sensation and pleasure. The authors also noted that some studies found that circumcision may improve sexual pleasure, sensitivity, and function.

Similarly, a 2024 review found no proven effects on circumcision’s effects on sexual pleasure, function, and sensitivity.

As such, more research is needed to fully understand how the presence or absence of the foreskin may affect sexual sensitivity.

Does it affect lubrication?

Limited research has examined the effects of circumcision on lubrication.

A 2019 review found that some female partners reported slightly less vaginal lubrication after the male partner got circumcised.

The Circumcision Resource Center also notes that the foreskin may help maintain lubrication due to the presence of smegma.

That said, there’s no conclusive evidence that being circumcised requires extra lubrication.

Does it affect sperm production or overall fertility?

Although circumcision is one of the oldest surgeries still being practiced, experts are still examining its effects on sperm production and fertility.

A 2021 review found that circumcision may indirectly help prevent male fertility by protecting the penis from genitourinary infections, such as phimosis, balanitis, and HIV.

That said, the effect of circumcision on sperm production is likely to be small. This is because sperm is produced in the testicles, not the penis. Lifestyle and dietary factors are more likely to affect your fertility and sperm production.

Does it affect your risk of infection?

Research suggests that circumcision can greatly reduce the risk of infections, such as:

phimosis
balanitis
urinary tract infection (UTI)
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
human papillomavirus (HPV)
herpes simplex virus
gonorrhea
chlamydia
chancroid
syphilis

That said, it’s important to note that infections and other risks are also associated with circumcision. Some of these may include:

penile pain, bleeding, or swelling
wound dehiscence (when an incision reopens)
necrosis of the glans (death of cells)
meatal stenosis (when the hole at the penis head is too narrow)
postoperative buried penis

Circumcision in babies may also harm their long-term mental health and emotional stability, possibly due to the stress of the surgery.

For instance, people who are circumcised at a very young age may be more likely to experience irritability, sleeping problems, and avoidant behavior with the birthing parent. Later in life, they may also experience more anxiety and avoidant behavior compared with people who aren’t circumcised.

However, more research is needed to understand how circumcision affects a person’s physical, social, and emotional health.

Does circumcision affect your risk of penile cancer?

Some research suggests that getting circumcised at a young age may help reduce the likelihood of developing penile cancer as you get older.

People with an uncut penis may have a higher risk of penile cancer because they’re more likely to experience smegma and phimosis, which are both risk factors for penile cancer.

If you’re not circumcised, regularly cleaning your foreskin and maintaining good penis hygiene could help reduce your risk of developing penile complications, such as infections and cancer.

It’s important to note, though, that penile cancer is very rare.

Though research is still ongoing, people with a cervix whose partners are circumcised may also be less likely to develop cervical cancer. The main risk factor for cervical cancer is HPV.

»More on this:How to prevent penile cancer

The bottom line

Circumcision doesn’t have enough effect on the risk of most conditions to universally recommend the procedure. It also doesn’t affect your overall sexual health.

The major difference is that if you have an uncut penis, you’ll need to wash regularly under the foreskin to reduce the risk of infection and other conditions.

Taking steps to reduce your risk of STIs, such as using condoms during sex, is important regardless of whether your penis is circumcised.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Bossio JA, et al. (2016). Examining penile sensitivity in neonatally circumcised and intact men using quantitative sensory testing.https://www.auajournals.org/article/S0022-5347(15)05535-4/abstract
Functions of the foreskin. (n.d.).https://circumcision.org/functions-of-the-foreskin/
Low sperm count. (2024).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/low-sperm-count/
Miani A, et al. (2020). Neonatal male circumcision is associated with altered adult socio-affective processing.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7702013/
Morris BJ, et al. (2017). Effect of male circumcision on risk of sexually transmitted infections and cervical cancer in women.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(17)30386-8/fulltext
Morris BJ, et al. (2019). Sex and male circumcision: Women’s preferences across different cultures and countries: A systematic review.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6523040/
Morris BJ, et al. (2020). The contrasting evidence concerning the effect of male circumcision on sexual function, sensation, and pleasure: A systematic review.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2050116120301240
Punjani N, et al. (2021). Genitourinary infections related to circumcision and the potential impact on male fertility.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8987143/
Risk factors for cervical cancer. (2020).https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/cervical-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html
Sam P, et al. (2023). Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482236/
Tight foreskin (phimosis). (2022).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/phimosis/
Warees WM, et al. (2024). Circumcision.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535436/

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Medically reviewed by Darragh O'Carroll, MD — Written by Tim Jewell — Updated on May 2, 2025

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Does it affect penis size?

Does it affect the overall appearance?

Uncircumcised

Circumcised

Does it affect your approach to hygiene?

Uncircumcised

Circumcised

Does it affect sexual sensitivity?

Uncircumcised

Circumcised

Does it affect lubrication?

Does it affect sperm production or overall fertility?

Does it affect your risk of infection?

Does circumcision affect your risk of penile cancer?

The bottom line

How we reviewed this article:

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