In Britain is it normal for men to be circumcised or not?

[Treesandgardens]

I’ve just watched an episode of Good Trouble where one of the characters is very surprised that her boyfriend is uncircumcised. She talks about it with her friends and they all clearly regard it as very unusual. It reminded me that there is an episode of Sex and the City where one of the characters is also very surprised to find that a man is uncircumcised.

This makes me wonder: what’s the situation with this in Britain? I’ve always assumed that the vast majority of British men are uncircumcised, but I’ve not been with many men so don’t know whether this is the case. Just curious!

No its not routinely done in the UK. I've never see a circumcised penis

My partner is circumcised.. it’s better I think than not circumcised

Better in what way?

Here in the UK I only know of 2 circumcised people.

1 is a friend of DHs who had to have it done as a teen for medical reasons.

The other was born in the states.

But every penis I've seen (the males in my friendship group at uni loved a bit of nudity, and were widely spread from different areas of the UK) has been uncut. Very very glad it's not routine here.

Bloke here..... played football with blokes and got changed with them for 35 years.

I would say I’d seen no more than a handful, but that would probably be wishful thinking on my part.

Not that I was looking.

@Treesandgardens

More common in older men when it was done routinely. UK has presumably seen the light now. Still done by Jewish community [without anaesthetic?] when boy is 7 days old. Also in Islamic community.

@j712adrian Do you mean you’ve seen quite a lot?! Would you say it’s rare?!

UK - don't know any circumcised men apart from those for religious reasons. As a teacher who has taken little kids swimming I can't remember a circumcised child apart from one who had it done while in my class for medical reasons.

It's an abomination.

No, it is rare.

Very rare

Mostly not in UK, though occasionally done for medical reasons.

I think some replies are somewhat ill informed although it cannot yet be described as the norm. Circumcision of males in uk is estimated to be 10-20%. This is driven by medical needs for some but more widely by Jewish and Muslim families where it is virtually universal with a few exceptions. If you are a health professional in areas where these minorities are high you would expect the vast majority to be.

In the USA it is still very widespread and in some states 70%. It used to be that the baby was circumcised as routine without asking parents but not so now but peer pressure is an element. Hence the comment in the programmes you watch as American girls often expect their men to be circumcised...

The upper classes also had it done as a norm although it is said Princess Diana refused for her children to be circumcised. Apparently Madonna asked Guy Ritchie to be circumcised but isn't clearly acknowledged why

There is a small but increasing trend for adult men to have it done for personal or partner preference. No real analysis but possible it is driven more mixing between white and black men (ie in gym changing rooms etc) so seen as more normal but more likely by porn with a lot originating in the USA where circumcision is widespread (although reducing) but is extremely common in male porn actors who if haven't been circumcised often elect to have it done.

As for personal preference I like the circumcised look and feel. I have known it discussed on drunk girlie nights where it sits alongside the topics such as 'spit or swallow' and preference for 'cut or uncut'. I think women like cut more than they let on but as with anything it isn't something you would go home and tell your partner unless he is already circumcised!!

Namechanged1010. Your contribution above is accurate and informative - in my opinion and experience.
I was circumcised at aged 11 for medical reasons - tight foreskin.
I suppose in truth I wish this hadn't been done, however, I am very happy being circumcised if that makes sense. I personally think it looks neater and my partners have - I think! - felt the same.
One former partner described it as being ' well defined'.
I suppose I regret that I cannot have that feeling of the foreskin caressing the glans while my partner masturbates me. However, lube feels very good. PIV feels great. Full stop.
Some people have suggested that circumcised men last longer in intercourse because their glans is permanently exposed and so becomes less sensitive. I don't think I can claim this, but I do try! :-)
Perhaps women find oral sex with a circumcised man more preferable?

The men from the US I've had sex with were all circumcised. The Europeans and Britons have been uncircumcised. Except one, who didn't even know he'd been circumcised (not kidding).

About 50%of the men I've seen naked in the UK and Europe have been circumcised. DP was circumcised after recurrent thrush and balanitis infections. I like the look and feel a lot.

My son was circumcised when he was about 8 years of age because of phimosis (foreskin so tight it cannot be retracted). In the Filipino community (his Mum is a Filipina) boys are routinely circumcised at around 11 years of age as some sort of entry to manhood rite.

I would have fought strongly against that if we had ever reached that stage. I feel that it is the male version of FGM, unless done for medical reasons. A friend's 11 year old began to have all sorts of behavioural issues when he was cut without any agreement on his part. He was told that his genitals were going to operated on for no good reason, and that was that. It is barbaric in my opinion to do that to a thinking child.

I for one, am glad that circumcision is not common in the UK and would like to see its use for religious reasons be banned.

@xpc316e

My son was circumcised when he was about 8 years of age because of phimosis (foreskin so tight it cannot be retracted). In the Filipino community (his Mum is a Filipina) boys are routinely circumcised at around 11 years of age as some sort of entry to manhood rite.

I would have fought strongly against that if we had ever reached that stage. I feel that it is the male version of FGM, unless done for medical reasons. A friend's 11 year old began to have all sorts of behavioural issues when he was cut without any agreement on his part. He was told that his genitals were going to operated on for no good reason, and that was that. It is barbaric in my opinion to do that to a thinking child.

I for one, am glad that circumcision is not common in the UK and would like to see its use for religious reasons be banned.

hear hear

Dp is and all but one of my exes have been (all for varying medical reasons) so it's more normal for me than not.
I personally prefer it and I know dp was much happier once he'd had it done.

25 plus years of sharing a rugby changing room the number of circumcised blokes I saw were very few.

I don't think that it's that common in the UK, and I'm glad about that. I wouldn't want my ds's circumcised unless for medical reasons.

I've been with both, and I personally prefer uncircumcised.

Not usual in uk

I thought that circumcision reduced sensation for men .Is that correct ?

I have only seen one circumcised adult male. And a lot of uncut ones.
An acquaintance was telling me how her infant son was a bit sore from his circumcision. I struggled not to look appalled - I mean, it was too late after the event to judge. Horrific practice if not medically needed.

I thought it was more common to be circumcised. I've only seen 2 men that are not