This is a really odd question, but am I circumcised?

So I'm 18 years old, and I always figured that my penis was normal, and uncircumcised. But just today I was browsing through Wikipedia, and stumbled upon the article for circumcision. The description and pictured of what an uncircumcised penis should look like is NOTHING like mine. I never knew that the foreskin generally covers a large majority of the glans (glands). My glans (glands) is completely uncovered.

There is a fairly small fold of skin directly underneath the glans (glands) that that was what people were referring to when they mentioned the foreskin.

I guess the easiest way of finding the answer to this would be to ask my parents. But I'm a little scared about why would have done something like circumcise me when I was a baby and never tell me. I can generally trust them, but I don't know what to think about this.

So basically, I was just interested what other people might think. Is it possible that certain people just have an extremely small foreskin, and is there a way for me to tell if that's the case?

[newdude]

I think it is possible that you have an unusually small foreskin; foreskins come in all shapes and sizes.  Some are unusually long, and I've never heard of an unusually small one, but I'm sure it's possible.  On the other hand, it's possible that you got circumcised when you were young, but I would expect your parents to have told you.

Maybe someone else will chip in here; I'm no circumcision expert, being uncirc.ed myself.

As you said, the only way to truly find out is to ask yo folks...

cheers.

[Nate944]

It would be REALLY small though. Whatever I have just BARELY butts up against the glans (glands).

And when I look at it, it does look awfully like scar tissue.

I dunno, I feel kind of weird right now. Why would my parents not tell me about something  that's as important as that? Really, it almost feels like a violation of my body! If they had told me, probably even at a young age, I would have understood. I was their child, under their jurisdiction, they would have done what they thought was best for me. But not informing about it just seems wrong. This is something that affects a private part of my body! Sure, it's not "major" but it darned well feels major.

Anyway, I really do need to ask my parents. I don't want to act offended, because I don't know for sure. But I need to know...and if it's true, I need to know why they never told me about this.

Another thing I just realized. I have one brother, and he's seven right now. His penis is the only other male's I've ever seen (from bathing him and changing his diapers when he was a baby) and I think I read that pretty much all babies have foreskins that cover their glans (glands) almost completely. That kind of seals the deal, because if they circumcised me they would have circumcised him.

[Nate944]

Whoops, forgot to mention that his penis is just like mine.

[newdude]

There was a thread awhile back, entitled "Circumcision is Barbaric," wherein we discussed the pros and cons of cicumcision.  There are many out there who think it is wrong to meddle with a baby, and I agree with them, except I wasn't cut and so it doesn't effect me.

But it does sound like they did circ you, from what you say about your bro.  Maybe they just took a little less off than others.  Like you say, usually babies have foreskins which cover the whole glans (glands).

[Nate944]

Ironically, I've read some of the pros and cons before. Honestly, I felt that the cons outweighed the pros, and decided I wouldn't do it to my kids in the future. But somehow I never realized that I had (most likely) been circumcised!

Anyway, with a bit more observation, I'm almost positive. The back of the penis doesn't really have a fold at all, and definitely has the looks of scar tissue.

This is just so weird. Certain images (not huge ones, but still) have been completely changed for me...

*sigh* Now how do I approach my parents about this...

[RailHead]

When you're out doing yard work, shoveling snow, going to a pro-wrestling show, etc. with your Dad, you could nonchalantly say:  "Hey Dad, was I circumcised?"  From your description, it sounds like you might have been.  It is very common.  I don't want to make light of your concern, but it really doesn't matter either way.  You have to realize that the hospitals often heavily promote circumcision.  Like so many subjects, you can read the pros and cons all day and night.  Either way, you are a unique individual and have nothing to fear on this subject, as it doesn't rank very high on the things-that-matter scale.

[Morgannon]

Nate;

My wife is a doctor, so I am familiar with this topic (yes, we discuss a lot of medical things on a day-to-day basis :p)  

Almost all babies today are circumcised, unless there is a specific prohibition against it.  The foreskin's purpose is to protect the penis from trauma and infection for an unclothed male.  Now that we wear clothes almost all of the time, a foreskin is kinda superfluois.  To make matters worse for the foreskin, doctors found that foreskins had a tendency to trap urine/moisture/germs/dirt/etc. and predisposed babies to infections.  

From Wikipedia:  "Dr. Thomas Wiswell, who was originally opposed to circumcision, later changed his mind after his research revealed a protective effect against urinary tract infections "  In addition to this, circumcision is supposed to protect men from HIV transmission, although I have no idea how this works.

Of course, a large number of men are circumcised due to their parents' religious beliefs.

Try not to feel so bad about your parents' decision.  They likely did it because their doctor advised them to do so, and if the doc told them it would protect their baby from infection, you can't really blame them for doing anything and everything possible in order to keep you safe and healthy.  If they did it for religious reasons, then that's a little harder to deal with.  Whatever the reason, you should definitely ask them about why it was done.  Try not to be accusatory of course - they probably didn't tell you because it probably wasn't that big of a deal to them.  If they know how big of a deal it is to you, I bet they will discuss it.  

Morgannon

Morgannon

[Football24]

I would not be upset that you were circumcised you should thank your parents.  I was never told that I was circumcised it is something that you just figure out I don't think it is normal for your parents to tell a child that...  Most males in the United States are circumcised so females I am sure are more used to seeing a circumcised penis.  There are different reasons to get a circumcision and it is mainly to reduce the health risks.

Look up Phimosis on google images and that is one of the reasons you don't want an uncircumcised penis.