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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.
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. (Right) Infibulated penis. (Left) infibulated vulva. |
