Adam, 36 - Brighouse, West Yorkshire
Where were you born?
I was born in Cambridge.
When did you first become aware of circumcision?
I probably first became of circumcision when I had a brief relationship, just after I came out as gay. The relationship was my first with a guy, called Andy. He was circumcised, but I was rather younger and naïve back then and didn't really know what the difference was. I knew if I managed to pull my foreskin back it would undoubtedly get trapped. Sometime afterwards I realise the difference - why Andy looked different to me – but whenever really discussed it to be honest and I don't know why he was cut either.
Are any members of your immediate family circumcised?
No one in my family is circumcised, immediate or otherwise. I’m unique in that sense! My immediate family, brother sister and parents know I'm cut, as I was back home when I had the operation. A few extended family members know and a couple of friends. It just normally comes up in conversation about something else, and its mentioned if I say I've been in hospital what it was for.
Do you ever discuss being cut with mates?
I do have a few friends that are cut, but most of them are uncut. One friend of mine says he's straight, but keeps asking what it's like, how do I manage and so on. It's quite a good conversation in Wetherspoon’s pub of an evening!
I've got one good friend, Jake, he's cut and he likes to tell everyone about it! Don't know why, but we've had conversations about it. Usually if guys are asking me, and they're cut, we ask why and when it was done.
The strangest thing I've ever been asked was a guy called Owen I used to work with who'd been recently circumcised. He asked me if I ever have trouble with awkward drips after I've been to the bathroom. It does seem to be a common thing among cut guys, a little pee leaking out afterwards, so he seemed a little reassured.
I was born in Cambridge.
When did you first become aware of circumcision?
I probably first became of circumcision when I had a brief relationship, just after I came out as gay. The relationship was my first with a guy, called Andy. He was circumcised, but I was rather younger and naïve back then and didn't really know what the difference was. I knew if I managed to pull my foreskin back it would undoubtedly get trapped. Sometime afterwards I realise the difference - why Andy looked different to me – but whenever really discussed it to be honest and I don't know why he was cut either.
Are any members of your immediate family circumcised?
No one in my family is circumcised, immediate or otherwise. I’m unique in that sense! My immediate family, brother sister and parents know I'm cut, as I was back home when I had the operation. A few extended family members know and a couple of friends. It just normally comes up in conversation about something else, and its mentioned if I say I've been in hospital what it was for.
Do you ever discuss being cut with mates?
I do have a few friends that are cut, but most of them are uncut. One friend of mine says he's straight, but keeps asking what it's like, how do I manage and so on. It's quite a good conversation in Wetherspoon’s pub of an evening!
I've got one good friend, Jake, he's cut and he likes to tell everyone about it! Don't know why, but we've had conversations about it. Usually if guys are asking me, and they're cut, we ask why and when it was done.
The strangest thing I've ever been asked was a guy called Owen I used to work with who'd been recently circumcised. He asked me if I ever have trouble with awkward drips after I've been to the bathroom. It does seem to be a common thing among cut guys, a little pee leaking out afterwards, so he seemed a little reassured.
"I met an uncut guy called Tommy. When he first saw my dick he declared it was much more pleasing to the eye than his foreskinned penis."
At what age were you circumcised?
I wasn't circumcised until I was 23. I'd had issues with my foreskin from the time I was a little boy onwards, but I had put it to the back of my mind. Phimosis (inability to retract foreskin) had happened in my early teens I think.
What is the main reason you were circumcised?
My foreskin would swell normally and it would be very tight to pull back, if at all. Pain and discomfort were the usual signs. But being a bit embarrassed I did nothing about it for a while. Probably when I was in my mid-teens, I remember asking my mother to look, who asked for my father’s opinion.
They were concerned, so I had to visit the doctor who gave me some ointment to reduce swelling and assist. Fast forward another four years and things were getting worse, not better. Infections were constant as was swelling and discomfort. This time I visited another doctor, a female one, who explained the situation and she looked and at this point circumcision was suggested. I was referred onto the hospital and within four months, in August of 2003, I went in for the operation. Although it took a little longer to heal than I thought it would, around 6 weeks, afterwards I was fine.
Are you happy about being circumcised?
Am I happy about being circumcised? It’s a weird question as I’ve never been asked that before or even considered it. It’s just part of me, how I am. In terms of feelings, though, yes very much so. I try to explain to people why I had it done and the pain I would suffer from phimosis, now it’s a relief and it feels okay. The pleasure of not having pain is almost joyful.
I do recall, just days before I went in, the tightness was so bad that urinating would be difficult. It would spray in many directions under pressure, so being able to aim in a straight line is good!
To be honest, wanking and sex has changed. Although I can do it without lube, it's much more pleasurable with lube, both masturbation and sex. Though it feels better having sex circumcised than before with a foreskin. There isn't the stretching feel of the foreskin going back too tightly. The only thing is some uncut guys I've been with tend to go full force on my dick, like they do, and I have to ask them to slow down or lube up. If I'm honest I have more of a leaning to dating circumcised guys now!
I didn't date one guy called Luke for only a few weeks. He dated exclusively circumcised men as he was cut himself. Probably the nicest reaction I've had was a guy a couple of years ago I met called Tommy. Although he was uncut, he was fit. When he first saw my dick he declared it looked much more pleasing to the eye than his foreskin penis did.
I won't lie and say that I don’t sometimes miss having a foreskin, but overall I'm not too bothered. It's just me, and I am what I am.
What is the best/worst thing about being circumcised?
Best things about being circumcised? Having no issues at all, ever, freedom from any issues mainly. Knowing that I’m in a minority, and that I share a trait with some very nice celebrities!
The worst thing was probably an ex’s reaction. I don’t really talk about being cut unless I’m asked - but an ex was horrified when he saw my dick. We separated and I was just unhappy at his reaction. I realise it can be a delicate subject, but to me any issues are worth the circumcision. I’m probably more upset at the narrow mindedness of some people.
If you had a son, would you circumcise him?
I’m not really a child person, but would I circumcise him? I’m not sure, if I did have children one day, I’d probably let him choose his own course.
I wasn't circumcised until I was 23. I'd had issues with my foreskin from the time I was a little boy onwards, but I had put it to the back of my mind. Phimosis (inability to retract foreskin) had happened in my early teens I think.
What is the main reason you were circumcised?
My foreskin would swell normally and it would be very tight to pull back, if at all. Pain and discomfort were the usual signs. But being a bit embarrassed I did nothing about it for a while. Probably when I was in my mid-teens, I remember asking my mother to look, who asked for my father’s opinion.
They were concerned, so I had to visit the doctor who gave me some ointment to reduce swelling and assist. Fast forward another four years and things were getting worse, not better. Infections were constant as was swelling and discomfort. This time I visited another doctor, a female one, who explained the situation and she looked and at this point circumcision was suggested. I was referred onto the hospital and within four months, in August of 2003, I went in for the operation. Although it took a little longer to heal than I thought it would, around 6 weeks, afterwards I was fine.
Are you happy about being circumcised?
Am I happy about being circumcised? It’s a weird question as I’ve never been asked that before or even considered it. It’s just part of me, how I am. In terms of feelings, though, yes very much so. I try to explain to people why I had it done and the pain I would suffer from phimosis, now it’s a relief and it feels okay. The pleasure of not having pain is almost joyful.
I do recall, just days before I went in, the tightness was so bad that urinating would be difficult. It would spray in many directions under pressure, so being able to aim in a straight line is good!
To be honest, wanking and sex has changed. Although I can do it without lube, it's much more pleasurable with lube, both masturbation and sex. Though it feels better having sex circumcised than before with a foreskin. There isn't the stretching feel of the foreskin going back too tightly. The only thing is some uncut guys I've been with tend to go full force on my dick, like they do, and I have to ask them to slow down or lube up. If I'm honest I have more of a leaning to dating circumcised guys now!
I didn't date one guy called Luke for only a few weeks. He dated exclusively circumcised men as he was cut himself. Probably the nicest reaction I've had was a guy a couple of years ago I met called Tommy. Although he was uncut, he was fit. When he first saw my dick he declared it looked much more pleasing to the eye than his foreskin penis did.
I won't lie and say that I don’t sometimes miss having a foreskin, but overall I'm not too bothered. It's just me, and I am what I am.
What is the best/worst thing about being circumcised?
Best things about being circumcised? Having no issues at all, ever, freedom from any issues mainly. Knowing that I’m in a minority, and that I share a trait with some very nice celebrities!
The worst thing was probably an ex’s reaction. I don’t really talk about being cut unless I’m asked - but an ex was horrified when he saw my dick. We separated and I was just unhappy at his reaction. I realise it can be a delicate subject, but to me any issues are worth the circumcision. I’m probably more upset at the narrow mindedness of some people.
If you had a son, would you circumcise him?
I’m not really a child person, but would I circumcise him? I’m not sure, if I did have children one day, I’d probably let him choose his own course.