Difference between Male and Female Circumcision

Key Difference: Male circumcision is the process of removing the foreskin that covers the head of the penis. Female Circumcision is the process of removing part or complete external female genitalia. It is also known as Female Genital Mutilation, or FGM.

Circumcision is a widely debated topic that borders the line on ethics and religion. To many people, male and female circumcision are the same – mutilation of the private area of a child without their consent. However, there are also others that claim male and female circumcision are completely different from each other. In technicality, male and female circumcision differ from each other in many ways.

Male and female sexual organs develop during the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. The male sexual organs develops into a penis with a tissue based covering known as foreskin. The female sexual organs develops into a small penile-like extension, known as the clitoris. Over the clitoris, a foreskin like material develops that covers the clitoris – this is known as ‘hood’ or labia. Other developments includes a vaginal hole that is also covered by this hood.

Male circumcision is the process of removing the foreskin that covers the head of the penis. Although, originally circumcision only included removing the tip of the foreskin, which extended the end of the glands. This ensured that men would have easier erections and fertility would increase. As the years passed, it was decided that in addition to just the tip of the foreskin (known as partial circumcision), men would have the whole foreskin removed (also known as full circumcision).

Male Circumcision has been divided into four types:

Type I – Removal of all prepuce beyond the glands (This includes removal of the tip of the foreskin)

Type II – Removal of all prepuce (Removing the foreskin at the head of the penis)

Type III – Removal of all skin (including scrotum)

Type IV - Sub incision (Any cuts, pricks and incisions made to the penis)

Female Circumcision is the process of removing part or complete external female genitalia. It is also known as Female Genital Mutilation, or FGM. The procedure includes using blades or razors with little to no anesthesia. The process differs depending on the area. In some areas, circumcision removes only a part of the clitoris or the full clitoris. While, in other areas a severe form of circumcision is performed – known as infibulation. Infibulation requires the removal of the clitoris, the clitoral hood, clitoral glands, the inner and the outer labia, and the closure of the labia. The rest is stitched up again with only a small hole left open for urination and menstrual cycle.

Female Circumcision is also divided into four types:

Type I – Partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or the prepuce

Type II – Partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora

Type III – Narrowing of the vaginal orifice with creation of a covering seal by cutting and appositioning the labia minora and/or the labia majora, with or without excision of the clitoris

Type IV – All other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, for example: pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterization.

Both circumcisions are viewed completely differently worldwide, with the male circumcision being legal and the FGM being illegal. The reasons for the circumcision also differ with the male one being as a manner of being closer to God. However, female circumcision is regarded as a form of purifying the woman and also to control her sexual desires.

Comparison between Male and Female Circumcision:

	Male Circumcision	Female Circumcision
Development of Sexual Organs	End of first trimester	End of first trimester
Age of Circumcision	Usually childhood and in some rare cases, teenage	Childhood as well as when child reaches puberty
Types of Circumcision	Type I – Removal of all prepuce beyond the glands Type II – Removal of all prepuce Type III – Removal of all skin (including scrotum) Type IV - Sub incision	Type I – Partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or the prepuce Type II – Partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora Type III – Narrowing of the vaginal orifice with creation of a covering seal by cutting and appositioning the labia minora and/or the labia majora, with or without excision of the clitoris Type IV – All other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, for example: pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterization.
What it removes	Originally only the tip of the foreskin was removed. Now, most commonly the full foreskin on the tip of the penis is removed.	There are a few types: removing only the clitoris, or the removal of clitoris and labia. It can also include complete removal of the folds, the labia and clitoris and the vagina is re-stitched leaving only a small hole for urination.
Reason for circumcision	Religious – to be closer to God. Also, cultural reasons are often cited.	To control the girl’s sexual desire is the most common reason cited. Other reasons include religion and culture.
Changes in sexual nature	There are no changes in sexual behavior. Circumcision does not alter a man’s ability to have an orgasm	Changes in sexual behavior. Circumcision alters a women’s ability to have an orgasm as well as perform sexually
Infection	Low risk for infections	Increases risk for infections
Pain	Is comparatively less painful	Is comparatively more painful
Healing	A few days to a week	Months to sometimes a year
Complications	Has low risk for complications	Has higher risk for complications
Legality	Is considered legal in many nations	Is considered illegal in many nations

Images Courtesy: en.wikipedia.org

Comments

"Female Circumcision" involves the removal or reduction of the hood of the clitoris for aesthetic or medical purposes. On the flip side, Female Genital mutilation (FGM) is a way of mutilating the genital parts of the girl or woman for curbing her sexual behavior by the cutting or stitching of the genital parts of the woman often removing the clitoris. They both should not be confused with each other. "Female circumcision" is perfectly legal and is commonly referred to as "clitoral hood reduction" or "clitoral hoodectomy" which is a expensive plastic surgery procedure (costing $2500 to $15,000 usd) that women pay for to enhance sexual function/aesthetics. This procedure also has the same health benefits as the male counterpart (disease prevention, hygienic, etc) and is 100% voluntary if you have the funds..simply google it (or bing/yahoo if that's your thing) it is easy knowledge to find..but easily miss understood (especially with pages like this). FGM is involuntary castration linking to cultural/tribal practices which should be eradicated just as the male counterpart to this was ended in 1912 search the term "eunuch" a man who genital where mutilated or even removed leaving only functions for urination, this practice was done in Europe/Asia and africa for men raised in certain cast systems (think catholic boys raised to be singers, or servants to the emperor in china/korea). So although this page is informative..it is vastly wrong in its use of words to describe female circumcision. All circumcision should be the decision of the individual, However men do not have that option in many cases (not all cases) as it is decided for them at birth, women on the other hand have that option later in life. FGM or this misinformed version of "female circumcision" should be called what it is CASTRATION. Hell if male circumcision is viewed as ok for babies because it make penises look cool and gain a health benefit why can't the real female circumcision aka clitoral hoodectomy be ok for babies as it's vastly unfair that women have to pay 1000's dollars later on in life to fix a insecurity/gain health benefit. A real argument about circumcision should be that men get circumcision (penile sculpting) and it is seen as the norm, and a woman goes to get circumcision via "clitoral hoodectomy" (vaginal sculpting) and it has to be discreet because it is seen as "taboo" and should be happy with what you have even though there is a option for aesthetic/health benefit the same as men. People need to stop linking female circumcision with female castration (the real FGM) Dammit. OK rant over. :)

Kess Westler #E...

Sun, 11/19/2017 - 18:18

The information about male circumcision is incorrect. It does change a mans ability to orgasm. It does hurt very badly. And it does have a lot of risks. Also, it is frowned upon in many nations and Germany is trying to make it illegal.

Matthew

Fri, 09/08/2017 - 05:31

You need to get yourself checked my boyfriend doesn't feel any pain at all and he was circumcised

Anonymous

Wed, 03/21/2018 - 09:28

honestly, the majority of people are misinformed. I was circumcised precisely in Germany and it was probably one of the best countries I could have done it. it would be a shame if it became illegal. the tip of the foreskin is bad because it prevents the skin from rolling back during erections and the skin can even rip. in addition, it leads to accumulation of a yellow paste, which are bacteria and it smells bad. my circumcision was only the tip, which allows me to clean my genitals properly and also I have no problems with erections. having a full circumcision would be bad because the foreskin protects the head and removing it would make the head less sensitive. this would make having orgasms more difficult. I was circumcised when I was 8 years old and it took almost a month to heal. it was very painful during the first few days whenever I had to pee, but then I learned how to avoid contact with the urine. it was also starting to get an infection but I was able to treat it before it became bad. other than that it was painful whenever something came in contact with my penis (including pants and underwear) so the doctor taught me a weird position to place my penis to avoid contact with the place were it hurt. as for the female circumcision, I stumbled across this page because I got curious about it. I thought maybe women would also have a circumcision to remove the skin above the clitoris since it also causes bacteria accumulation and maybe they had other reasons as well. but looking at how misinformed the author is and the fact that he/she says circumcision and mutilation are the same, I guess it's just one of those feminist victim pages.

Anonymous

Sun, 10/01/2017 - 23:53

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Difference Between | Descriptive Analysis and Comparisons

Difference between Male and Female Circumcision

Key Difference: Male circumcision is the process of removing the foreskin that covers the head of the penis. Female Circumcision is the process of removing part or complete external female genitalia. It is also known as Female Genital Mutilation, or FGM.

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