Male genital care and reproductive health care knowledge

Regarding the foreskin:

After entering puberty, the penis develops rapidly. A mature penis becomes thick and robust, the glans enlarges, and the foreskin retracts to cover the penile shaft, with only a frenulum connecting it to the glans. About one-third of males begin to have their glans exposed between the ages of 15 and 16, and two-thirds have completed this transformation by age 20. The remaining males have phimosis or paraphimosis, preventing the glans from being exposed. In my country, approximately 29% of adult men have phimosis, and 9% have paraphimosis.

There is much controversy regarding the impact of circumcision on male sexual function. In some cultures, the practice of circumcision plays a role in sexual intercourse. Some believe that during intercourse, especially during pleasure, the vaginal walls tightly surround the penis. As the penis advances, the foreskin remains behind the glans, forming a relatively thick band. This foreskin slides forward along the vaginal wall, massaging it in a wave-like motion, eliciting sexual satisfaction and pleasure from the woman. The wave-like contractions of the vaginal wall further stimulate the erogenous zone behind the glans penis, thus bringing pleasure and satisfaction to the man. During penile retraction, the foreskin is pushed back onto the glans, increasing its diameter by approximately 2 millimeters. This significantly enhances the woman's pleasure.

For this and other reasons, circumcision is not recommended. However, another viewpoint argues for circumcision, arguing that: an exposed glans penis, constantly in contact with underwear and the body (inner thigh skin), desensitizes its erogenous zones. During intercourse, the glans penis is less sensitive, promoting harmonious sexual satisfaction for both partners, allowing their pleasure to occur almost simultaneously. Furthermore, bacteria, viruses, and shed epithelial cells within the foreskin can irritate the penis, causing inflammation. It may even induce penile cancer and restrict penile growth. However, in general, the important protective function of the foreskin and its role in sexual intercourse are stronger reasons to retain it.

However, it should be noted that circumcision is necessary in certain situations, often occurring in cases of pathological phimosis—where the foreskin tightens due to inflammation.

Scrotum

The scrotum is a thin-walled sac that houses the testicles. The scrotal wall contains muscle fibers of involuntary muscles. Due to exercise or cold, these muscle fibers contract, pulling the testicles towards the perineum. In hot weather, the scrotum relaxes, allowing the testicles to hang more freely outside the body. These changes in the scrotum reflect an important thermoregulatory mechanism, as sperm formation is extremely sensitive to temperature. Testicles that rise due to cold can gain heat from the body's warm environment; conversely, a relaxed scrotum allows the testicles to deviate from the body and provides a larger surface area for heat dissipation. The scrotal septum divides the scrotum into two parts, each containing a testis, epididymis, and the lower half of the vas deferens.