The Foreskin: A Guide for Women

The foreskin is a mysterious little piece of tissue that many American men don’t have, and many sexual partners may be unfamiliar with its function. What is the foreskin, and what on earth do you do with it during sex?

Pull up a chair, concerned reader, and let your foreskin education begin.

What is it?

The foreskin, or prepuce, is a bilayer tissue that extends from the distal one-third of the penis shaft (the third farthest from the body) over the penis head (or glans). The foreskin is sometimes removed at birth (or even later in life), for religious, cultural or medical reasons, in a procedure called circumcision.

The vast majority of men in the United States, nearly 80 percent, are circumcised, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A 2014 article from the Mayo Clinic Proceedings journal indicated rates of circumcision differ among ethnicities: 91 percent of Caucasians, 76 percent of Black people and 44 percent of Latinos.

Function & benefits

The foreskin covers the head of the penis, protecting it from abrasion and contact with the outside world, which, for most guys, is clothes, usually underwear. It also retains sexual fluids, maintains sensitivity and reduces friction during sex.

The function of the prepuce is highly debated today, with many claiming it plays a vital role in both protection of the glans and sexual stimulation, while others insist it has no health-promoting function and, in fact, poses an infection risk.

The foreskin provides a number of benefits, mainly sexual ones. It has a large number of nerves, making it very sensitive to touch. It also amps up the pleasure dial during any kind of sex by sliding back and forth over the head of the penis, which provides additional stimulation. It decreases friction and the need for lubrication. After circumcision, the skin on the head of the penis becomes thicker and harder, eventually reducing sensation.

From a female partner’s perspective, uncut men tend to perform shorter, gentler thrusts than circumcised men do. As a result, they make more contact with the mons pubis and clitoris, increasing the chance of orgasm for the woman. A woman with an uncircumcised partner will also find it’s easier to pleasure him, because his penis is more sensitive. And less lubricant is required for penetration, so the woman can enjoy his member entering her with less irritation.

There are downsides—primarily problems with retraction and infection—associated with the foreskin, but proper care and sensible hygiene can help prevent issues in most uncut males.

Sex with an uncut partner

Certain sex positions can be particularly stimulating for partners of an uncut guy, due to the extra layer of skin. The intact ridged band on an uncircumcised penis can stimulate spots a circumcised penis might not. Try positions like the French tickler to experience the full benefits of that special band. While the name normally refers to ribbed condoms and penis sleeves, if your man has “ridges” built-in because of his foreskin, take advantage.

Guys with foreskins are likely to be more sensitive, so for oral sex, focus your efforts around the head of the penis. If it’s too much, pull his foreskin gently back up and continue pleasuring him from the outside layer. Similarly, during penetrative sex, he may prefer positions that involve more gliding and less deep pounding. Positions like the wiggle room, which involves “wiggling” from underneath during missionary, and others where you rock rather than thrust would be good to try.

Want to really go for it? Try “docking” with him. This is usually an act between two uncut men, but women can also try this with uncut partners. Find a comfortable standing position (maybe against a wall for support), and have him gently pull his foreskin over your clitoris (or penis head, if you’re working with that equipment instead), creating a suction cup. The options are practically endless.

Many women (and men) feel nervous or unsure about how to manage the foreskin during sex with an uncut guy. Be honest with your partner, and he can tell you what works best for him. It’s said that nature doesn’t make mistakes. Many uncut men—and their partners—would agree.