1. Smegma isn’t dirty. Most people have heard that intact men are more prone to infections because of a dirty little secretion beneath the prepuce called smegma. Smegma isn’t necessarily dirty; it may actually contain antibacterial properties, though researchers differ in opinion on this matter. Smegma only becomes problematic if it is allowed to build up, at which point bacteria can build up as well, leading to an increased risk of infection and foul odor. Proper hygiene is enough for most men with sheaths to avoid infections or smells.

2. The intact form a majority. While this is untrue nationally, it’s certainly true internationally. Only about a third of adult males around the globe are cut, according to the World Health Organization. The rate is much higher in the U.S. – around three-quarters of men are sheathless here.

3. The medical benefits of prepuce removal surgery are questionable. While some studies in Africa have found that cut men have a lower risk of the partner-transmitted immunodeficiency virus, this was not consistent for men who contract the virus through rear-end sensual activity, the main method of transmission in the United States. Also, intact men have higher rates of male organ cancer, but the condition is extremely rare to begin with, even among the intact. Though the CDC pushed to promote prepuce removal surgery in 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics maintains that the health benefits are not great enough to endorse it.

4. There’s nothing ugly about the prepuce. Some men and women maintain that the prepuce is aesthetically displeasing. Though people have personal preferences, there’s nothing inherently “ugly” about the prepuce. It makes about as much sense to say such a thing as it does to say that the lips outside the female organ are ugly. Really, this judgment likely comes from a lack of familiarity with the sheath or from misconceptions about the cleanliness thereof. If a partner is turned off by prepuce, it’s likely due to narrow-mindedness, which is indisputably ugly.

5. Some partners enjoy the prepuce. Retracting the prepuce with a hand or mouth can be a pleasurable extra step for a partner, uncovering that sensitive glans (head of the male organ) and exposing it to his or her touch. Some partners revel in manually stroking the sheath over the glans as well.

6. The prepuce provides lubrication. Naturally lubricated, the intact male organ may require less additional lubrication both during solo and partner play.

7. The organ may be more sensitive. Studies have varied in results, but some maintain that the organ head of intact men is more sensitive and therefore more susceptible to pleasurable sensations than the constantly-exposed glans of a sheathless man’s member. This makes sense theoretically; a head that is constantly exposed to friction may experience a loss of sensitivity as the skin toughens in response to that friction.

It’s important for men to be comfortable with what they’re packing, and for partners to be open-minded. If a man finds himself with a partner who has not encountered an intact male organ before, he may educate his partner about the prepuce – how to gently retract it, how to engage it during manual play, etc. He may also benefit from dispelling any misconceptions the partner may harbor concerning uncleanliness.

Men who want to show their intact male organs a little extra love on top of a solid daily hygiene routine can apply a male organ health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil). Such a product has benefits for any male organ, intact or not, as it contains moisturizers like Shea butter and antibacterial vitamin A to cut down on odors and infection risk.

Visit http://www.menshealthfirst.com for additional information on most common male organ health issues, tips on improving organ sensitivity and what to do to maintain a healthy member. John Dugan is a professional writer who specializes in men’s health issues and is an ongoing contributing writer to numerous websites.

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