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自古以來，男女性器官的裝飾、外科手術改造、甚至有意的毀損在許多文化裏就已經實行了。
男性
在男性，最有名的莫過於包皮環切（circumcision），即陰莖包皮的外科切除術。包皮環切的理由也許是為了清潔衛生（包皮過長）、宗教習慣（猶太教、穆斯林）或文化需要（今日的美國）。這種相對簡單的手術通常沒有大的身體損傷的後果，要不是按照一些最近的研究結果，它似乎會降低感染HIV/AIDS的危險，這種手術做不做都無大礙。更為極端的是用外科手術的方法插入軟性或硬性材料的裝飾物，它從陰莖的邊緣向外突起。在文字出現之前的社會就已經有了這種裝飾物，而且現在在西方國家是被男人用作身體穿刺（body
piercing）的一種方式。在古代社會，有一種特別的身體穿刺，稱為陰莖扣鎖（infibulation）[1]，有時被用於男奴身上，以防止他們發生性交行為：陰莖包皮被拉起蓋住陰莖頭，然後穿刺並用一個金屬插入環固定。這就使陰莖不能勃起。在19世紀，一些西方醫生也用這種方法作為防止男性手淫的手段。還有一種全然不同的用途，也就是所謂的“美化”，它甚至曾用來作為根治手術，稱為“尿道下切開（subincision）”：沿陰莖腹面做縱切開，暴露尿道。顯而易見，其結果是排尿和射精有些許困難。不過，這種提升男性自豪感的習慣在澳大利亞、非洲、南美洲和太平洋島國的部落裏曾經通行。最後，還有一種手術，叫閹割（castration），這是一種非常嚴重的男性性器官的毀損，在東方和西方文化中曾實行了數個世紀。
女性
在許多文化裏，女性性器官同樣會遭到外科手術的修飾。例如，相對簡單的手術也許只是把陰蒂包皮切開一個小口、摩擦掉，或者部分或全部切除。人們把它類比於男性的相應的手術，也許被稱為女性包皮環切（female
circumcision）。不過，在19世紀，一些西方醫生也切除陰蒂頭，作為防止女性手淫的一種手段。這樣的手術稱為陰蒂切除（clitoridectomy），這是一種後果嚴重的手術，等同於危險而極端做法的女性性器官毀損。當今，在世界上特定的地區作為傳統習俗殘存了下來。最後，我們仍然要說明的是，在古代，陰戶扣鎖（infibulation）[1]有時也用於女奴。在這種用途中，扣環拴緊陰戶的兩片大陰唇。當然，其目的仍然是想防止女奴參與性交活動。
阴茎/阴户扣锁
在古代，但是也偶尔在现代，男性和女性的阴茎/阴户曾用环扣锁住，即用一个环状物穿透其外部性器官，以防止他/她们性交。术语“阴茎/阴户扣锁(infibulation)”起源于拉丁语fibula：钉或扣。(左)被扣锁的阴茎；(右)被扣锁的阴户。
Infibulation
In ancient, but occasionally also in modern times, males as well as females were infibulated, i.e. a ring was put through their external sex organs in order to prevent them from having sexual intercourse. The term “infibulation” is derived from lat. fibula: pin or clasp. (Left) Infibulated penis. (Right) infibulated vulva.
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The ornamentation, surgical alteration, and even deliberate mutilation of male and female sex organs have been practiced by many cultures since ancient times.
Males
In the case of males, the best known example is
circumcision, i.e. the surgical removal of the penile foreskin. The reasons for this may be hygienic (phimosis), religious (Jews, Moslems), or cultural (the USA today). This relatively simple operation is usually of no great physical consequence except that, according to some recent research, it seems to lower the risk of infection with
HIV/AIDS. More drastic are some forms of ornamentation with surgically inserted flexible or inflexible materials protruding from the sides of the penis. This has been found in various pre-literate societies and has now been adopted by some men in Western countries as a form of
body piercing. In the ancient world, a special form of penile piercing, known as
infibulation, was sometimes performed on male slaves in order to prevent them from having sexual intercourse: The foreskin was pulled over the glans, then pierced and held in place by an inserted metal ring. This made any erection impossible. In the 19th century, some Western doctors also used this method as a means of preventing males from masturbating. An entirely different purpose, namely “beautification”, was served by an even more radical operation known as
subincision: The underside of the penis was slit open lengthwise, exposing the urethra. Obviously, as a result, urination and impregnation became somewhat difficult. Nevertheless, this practice of heightening male pride was common among various Australian, African, South American, and Pacific island tribes. Finally, there is
castration, a very serious mutilation of male sex organs that was practiced for many centuries in both Eastern and Western cultures.
Females
In many cultures, the female sex organs have also been subject to surgical modification. For example, a relatively simple operation may nick, scratch, or remove a part or all of the clitoral foreskin. In analogy to the respective male operation, this may be called
female circumcision. However, in the 19th century, some Western doctors also cut off the clitoral glans as a means of preventing females from masturbating. Such an operation, called
clitoridectomy, is a serious operation that amounts to nothing less than a dangerous and crippling
mutilation of female sex organs. Today, it survives as a traditional custom in certain parts of the world. Finally, it remains to be stated that, in antiquity, an
infibulation was sometimes also performed on female slaves. In this case, the ring was fastened through the major lips (labia majora) of the vulva. Again, the purpose was to prevent them from engaging in coitus.
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