20 years old, need some advice

[oriley2587]

I was born in the United States, and although I've never talked to my parents about it I'm almost positive I was circumcised at birth. It's been as long as I can remember. For a long time I didn't even realize that I was circumcised or that it was even something people did. I don't remember when I learned about it, but I didn't think it was weird at the time either because it was presented as a normal and necessary procedure, like cutting the umbilical cord. I think I really started to question it when I was in my late teens, and after a little research I was shocked to find that most men are actually not circumcised, and that there seemed to be no good reason for the procedure. I also learned a little about regrowing foreskin, but I didn't really seriously consider it until now.

The more I think about it the more it disgusts and angers me, not only because it is simply messed up and yet is so widely accepted as normal, but because for me personally I feel like it probably affected my sensitivity significantly. It's difficult to say really as I've never experienced being uncircumcised. But I've always felt the need to use an excessive amount of pressure when masturbating; when I was younger I actually rubbed the skin raw on many occasions. In general it's just hard for me to feel much of anything without using a lot of pressure, which I don't think is healthy. Sex isn't impossible for me, but it is usually fairly difficult, and I generally prefer masturbation, which I don't think is normal for a guy. I don't know how much of that is a result of wearing a condom, as I've never had sex without one. But I feel like I probably have at least some decreased sensitivity.

I'm not sure how much regrowing foreskin would help with the sensitivity issues, but I still feel like I want to do it, if for nothing more than that I want it to look and feel more natural and like it should be. And if it does help, that will be even better. The only problem I'm having is that I'm not really sure of where I am as far as the extent of damage done by the circumcision or what method is best for me to start with. I was hoping some people here may be able to give me some advice in that regard.

[Allie2k14]

Hi oriley, welcome to the forum!

I really started to question it when I was in my late teens, and after a little research I was shocked to find that most men are actually not circumcised

In my case it was when I was about 4 at preschool. By simple observation I found out that I was the only one who was cut among my classmates (circle-pee at recess time).

I feel like it probably affected my sensitivity significantly. It's difficult to say really as I've never experienced being uncircumcised. But I've always felt the need to use an excessive amount of pressure when masturbating; when I was younger I actually rubbed the skin raw on many occasions. In general it's just hard for me to feel much of anything without using a lot of pressure, which I don't think is healthy. Sex isn't impossible for me, but it is usually fairly difficult, and I generally prefer masturbation

One of the benefits of restoration (at least in my case, so far) is that you'll regain sensitivity and mobility. This means you will be able to masturbate with no need for lube or dry-rubbing because you'll get enough stimulation without so much pressure. More mobility (gliding) will give you the chance to masturbate with 2 fingers, sliding your skin up and down, which isn't possible if you were cut tight.

The only problem I'm having is that I'm not really sure of where I am as far as the extent of damage done by the circumcision or what method is best for me to start with.

You could start by taking some starting point pictures of your penis. Maybe you want to start your own progress gallery on this forum, in the Progress Galleries section (read the sticky about posting guidelines).
Seeing some pictures we could evaluate or at least give you our opinion on your current status and how severe was your circumcision.

You can evaluate yourself your current status by using one or more of the various existing indicators:

• Coverage Index (CI-#) (The site seems dead, there is a web copy at https://web.archive.org/web/20121005...CI/CIchart.htm)
• Real Coverage Index (RCI-#)
• Forced erect Coverage (FEC %)

I would recommend you to start your restoration right now, with manual methods: Manual tugging Routine. This way you can get used to tugging your skin, know its elastic limit, know what is "moderate tension" for you, get it used to be stretched... and meanwhile you can read further.

[parsecskin]

Hello and welcome to the forum. You have come to the right place. I got cut as an adult and know what the difference is. It's HUGE! Restoring your foreskin is the single best thing you can do for yourself. Especially at your age. Younger guys get it done much faster, right now is the absolute best time in your life to do it. What you described is pretty typical for cut guys. Raw spots, excessive pressure and the use of condoms does reduce sensitivity a lot.
All that tissue from your scar line up to and including the head is not skin. It's mucous membrane like your lip. One of the major functions of the foreskin (there are 16!) is to protect that tissue and keep it moist and sensitive. When it's exposed to air and clothing it dries out and loses a ton of sensitivity. The body also produces a protein called keratin in an attempt to protect that sensitive tissue and that keratin layer continues to get thicker with each passing year reducing sensitivity even more. This is why Viagra is so popular in the US. The US, with only 5% of the world's male population, consumes a whooping 43% of the world's Viagra supply! Why? CIRCUMCISION! To give you and idea of what it's supposed to be like, try this: Wet your fingertip and run it lightly over your bottom lip. Feel how much that tickles? Well, all the mucous membrane you have left on your dick is supposed to be even MORE sensitive than that! If you restore, that sensitivity will return. Know what else? The stuff you are missing is even more sensitive and has some highly specialized nerve endings that feel awesome! Those we will never get back, but you can get back as much as 70%-80% of the function and sensitivity. THAT is worth doing! Aside from better sex, your everyday comfort will be unbelievable. No more chaffing, no more underwear getting caught in your pee hole, no more constantly being reminded about your dick every time you move around. It will feel like any other appendage, until play time! You even feel much less "exposed" with a foreskin, even when completely naked, so things like naked hot tubbing with friends doesn't feel weird.

If you go to www.norm.org and read the entire website, it will answer a lot of questions you may have and give you the proper terminology and resources to help you quite a bit. There is also a "coverage index", or CI as we call it, chart that will help you in this.
How you begin relies largely upon how tight you were cut and how much inner skin you have left.

Check that out and if you have any questions, feel free to PM me any time.

[Guest]

...... The only problem I'm having is that I'm not really sure of where I am as far as the extent of damage done by the circumcision or what method is best for me to start with. I was hoping some people here may be able to give me some advice in that regard.

There are a few factors that affect results in a general way, but the bottom line is that restoration, or at least coverage, will give you results which are better than you expect. Said differently, your situation can only get better, so it is worth trying. That said, here are the factors:

1. The amount of old inner mucosa left on your shaft. The more you have of this, the more (or at least sooner) your outcome will be noticeable in a good way. This is the tissue which has the nerves under it which produce high level sensation (pleasure). Cover this tissue and that pleasure will return; much more than you realize. It takes awhile, but it does happen. That is a promise, not just from me, or us, but a promise from your own body, so you can't go wrong.

2. How loose your circ is, or said differently, how loose your shaft skin is. If it's at least somewhat loose then you may be able to start with a device. But there isn't anything magic about devices, they are only convenient to use during a work day. Anything that applies tension on your skin will work, so you can always begin with a manual method. Everybody can do manual, and some guys do manual as a supplement to using a device. Manual methods are every bit as effective as devices, and they have the added advantage of being focus-specific, which means you can apply tension to a specific area if you think you need to.

It's all very simple, really. Just a matter of starting, experimenting to see what works for you in terms of what you can tolerate, and then just hanging in, for the years that it takes.

[Going Hooded]

I see you've received good advice. I started restoring my foreskin when I was 14. You have my full support.

[oriley2587]

Thanks for all the responses!

You can evaluate yourself your current status by using one or more of the various existing indicators:

• Coverage Index (CI-#) (The site seems dead, there is a web copy at https://web.archive.org/web/20121005...CI/CIchart.htm)
• Real Coverage Index (RCI-#)
• Forced erect Coverage (FEC %)

Alright, I looked at all three sites to try to get a better idea of where I am. I will probably also take some starting pictures soon so I can track my progress, and perhaps start a progress gallery later. Anyway, I seem to fall solidly into the categories of CI-1 and RCI-1 on the first two. For the FEC I didn't even have to measure, because the most I can do is get the skin to bunch up right at the coronal ridge without it becoming pretty uncomfortable. So I guess that would put me right at 0% FEC.

Another question: I noticed while doing this that there seems to be a bit more loose skin on the right side of my penis. I also have always noticed that when erect my penis curves to the left side. I've always heard that it's just natural, kind of like one nostril being bigger than the other, but now I'm thinking maybe it's because of the circumcision being tighter on the left side. It's never caused any severe discomfort or anything, but that just seemed kind of interesting to me as I never really considered that as a possibility. Is that why, or will it still curve when the skin is more loose? It seems like too much of a coincidence now that I think about it.

[parsecskin]

It's possible that the tighter skin on that side is responsible for the curve. As you gain skin and it loosens up, not only will that curve most likely go away, but your penis will increase in natural flaccid and erect size. One of the main functions of the foreskin is to provide enough skin to accommodate an erection. If the skin is too tight, it will restrain your penis. Most people don't realize how much skin the foreskin is comprised of. Its the size of a 3x5 index card on an adult, sometimes bigger! I too started at a stupid tight CI 1 with no FEC. Now I am at about a CI 3.5 and have an FEC of 80%. At a CI 1 you don't have enough skin to use a tapeless device, so try the cannister method or manual u tip you have enough skin. At 20 years old it shouldn't take long.