Intact Males: How We Pee

 

It's been a while since the last post.

A year almost!

Since a post is long over due, I thought, why not do a post on peeing?

Not much thought is given to how we intact males urinate.

I think most of us just do what we do, when we do what we have to do, when we go pee without giving it too much thought.

Although I have heard that some fathers teach their male children to pee one way or another, I can tell you one thing; my father didn't teach me. As far as I can remember, all he did was either sit me down on the toilet, or pull my pants down in front of a urinal and just said "go," so I was pretty much left to figure things out on my own once I started "going" by myself..

How does an intact man urinate?
In my experience (I've never really observed another man, intact or otherwise, as he urinates; I think it's taboo in most places.), there are two ways to do it.

You can either leave your foreskin unretracted and simply pee through it, or retract your foreskin to pee.

 Peeing with the hood forward (left), peeing with the hood pulled back (right).

Peeing without retracting the foreskin
It may appear as though peeing with the foreskin pulled forward is unhygienic, but it's really not all that outlandish, considering that most of us peed this way as children, when our foreskins couldn't retract.

Actually, when women pee, the pee trickles around the area within the labia including the opening to the vagina, and although they may have to dab with toilet paper, they will have to take a shower and clean the area. This isn't outlandish either; it's called "hygiene." It's a simple fact of life that humans have to bathe.

Now, I have *heard* some people say that not pulling back your foreskin to pee is "unhygienic," because leaving pee there to foment might "cause infection," but I wonder how much of this is true; in my case, I have never had a urinary tract infection, or a bout of balanitis.

I researched the topic recently, and it was long believed that urine was sterile, but it turns out that this is not the case. Science shows that there are healthy levels of bacteria in every part of your body; an infection happens when flora in those parts of our body are disturbed. This is true for the mucosal tissues of the genitals in both men and women, as I've already talked about on a different post.

I'm going to make an educated guess and say that urine under the foreskin isn't a problem if the bacterial levels in the urine are "healthy." (Click on the link regarding bacteria in urine above.) My guess is that nature designed the penis in such a way that our foreskins can deal with urine. Additionally, it shouldn't be a problem if one bathes regularly anyway.

Retracting the foreskin to pee
This may not be possible for all of us. In most children it isn't, and they usually pee in the first way described above. To pee this way, men usually pull back their foreskins, just enough to reveal the meatus (that's what the hole at the end of the penis is called), and then just let it go.

Some men feel this might be advantageous, because urine does not wash through the preputial space. They may feel that for this reason, this way of peeing is more hygienic, and the smell of urine is less likely to occur. The problem that I see here is that, urine washing through the preputial space may actually be a *good* thing, because otherwise that area remains stagnant and may actually encourage infection. The body is well-equipped to deal with healthy levels of bacteria, after all.

Retraction may not be possible in a hand-full of men. I've read testimonies from men who are quite comfortable with the fact they can't retract, and they say urinating is no problem. They have no problems with hygiene or infection. Retracting the foreskin to pee is not an absolute requirement, but it might be preferable in some cases.

One man's philosophy on peeing
So I was doing some research on the internet for this post, and I came across an interesting post on this very topic on Quora. I don't think I could have said it better myself, so I'm just going to copy and paste the answer right here.

The question was "Should uncircumcised men roll their skin back when urinating?"

One Peter J. Mello replies:

Should it be pulled back, at least behind the meatus (pee-hole) for urination? - Probably, yeah.

Do I pull mine back to pee? - Not always.

Now before you jump to the conclusions that I'm lazy, unsanitary or suffer some major cognitive dissonance, allow me to elaborate.

It's a decision I make differently at different times, based on the following factors:

1. Is there a foreseeable possibility that anyone besides me will be interacting with my penis before my next shower? If so, I retract. This is just common decency. Nobody goodly enough to be willingly touching your twig ’n’ berries should ever be treated to urine residue for their trouble. This increases the likelihood of repeat performances and promotes your reputation as a man of good character and hygiene.
2. How long will it be until my next shower or other general ablutions? If it's late in the workday or I'm at the gym and know I’ll be getting squeaky clean in short order, I probably won't retract. If I just recently showered or several hours will elapse before I will again, then I skin it back. Not being well-enough endowed to perform autofellatio or become otherwise so contorted, I can't say if an odor develops from the traces of urine left under my foreskin after peeing, but I don't want to roll those dice.

Why not just retract as a general rule then, you ask? In short, because I have a long foreskin that covers the head regardless of my state of excitement, and even though it retracts easily at all times, quite honestly it’s just more comfortable to keep it covered. Sometimes those few seconds of a cool breeze wafting by a part of my anatomy that almost never encounters the outside world sans its built-in security blankey are a bit stimulating, other times it can be enough to induce a whole-body shiver and leave me feeling momentarily chilly. Either way, though minor inconveniences, I'm happy to eschew them if possible without any appreciable damage to my general hygiene.

I've also heard other uncircumcised guys say they retract because not doing so makes their urine stream unpredictable or otherwise more difficult to aim. In my experience, though, the reverse is true. My foreskin acts as a nozzle when I pee, ensuring that the flow is unified and always goes where I intend, even if I'm doing my best race horse impression. It's when I retract that sometimes extra pressure during release will throw me a curveball or *gulp* result in the demon known as splashback. Again, if I know I'll be washing down there in short order anyway, why not just let bygones be bygones and let him keep his turtleneck on and avoid any surprises.

So there's one more approach on whether or not to retract before peeing, and that's to use discretion to make a decision on a case-by-case basis.

The fellow who wrote this makes an excellent point; if you're expecting to have sexual interaction, or you just want to be "ready" for a casual encounter, you might want to pull it back to make sure things are as clean as possible down there.

Me, personally, after sex with the wife, I like to pee with the foreskin forward to wash my foreskin out. Believe it or not, I feel much "cleaner" after doing this; if I don't pee, my penis feels all sticky and I feel the need to take a shower. I don't know about other guys out there, but after sex, I just want to crash.

The gentlemen above also makes an important point; it's just more comfortable to keep it covered! Not to mention that I concur with him on stream predictability. For whatever reason, I feel I have more control over the flow of urine when I'm covered. When I pull back my foreskin, I don't always know where it's going to shoot first. When I pinch the end of my foreskin, the urine goes where I aim it. Also, it dribbles down into the toilet or urinal, instead of shooting straight out.

One time, just for a change, I was at a urinal, and I decided I was going to pull back my foreskin for peeing, and it was a huge mistake. The force of my stream hit the porcelain on the inner side of the urinal, and it bounced back all over my white Dockers. When I was done, I could see on the huge mirror in front of the sink that my pants were rather splattered. I lied and told people that it was water from the sink. Luckily the pants dried, and they were less noticeable, but still, I felt it was kinda gross to know there was dried pee on my pants. Now, I only retract unless I absolutely have to; when I'm covered, I'm always right on target.

Finishing up
So once you're urinating, what do intact men do?

I think it's generally accepted, even among circumcised males, that residual pee in or on the penis?

No bueno.

So what to do?

If you're intact, and you pee with the foreskin forward, you probably try to massage any urine left in-between your glans and foreskin out. I think that by feel you sort of just "know" how much is in there. You may want to give your foreskin one full retraction just to be sure, and then, just for good measure, give your penis a shake. Here's what it might look like:

Peeing with your foreskin retracted is no guarantee that pee won't get in between your preputial space, but I'd have to say it definitely reduces it.

After peeing this way, what I tend to do is shake my penis with the foreskin retracted. I retract fully and then give my shaft one milk forward to squeeze out any drops, then I pull my foreskin forward completely before putting my penis away. It looks something like this:

I imagine this is how circumcised guys pee, sans the foreskin part, although doing my research on google, I read that even cut guys have a hard time shaking out those last drops. Some men prefer to pee in a toilet stall, that way they can just take some squares of toilet paper and dab some of the pee off.

I've tried it, and I personally don't like it. The moist toilet paper sticks to my glans and it's such a pain to get it off.

"No matter how many times you shake and dance, the last few drops end up in your pants." ~Author unknown

Related Post:
Intact Male Hygiene: You're Doing It Wrong

External Links: 
Science News: Urine is not sterile, and neither is the rest of you


Quora: Should uncircumcised men roll back their skin back when urinating?

Intact Male Hygiene: You're Doing It Wrong

Right, so something intact guys often get dirt for is being "dirty" and "smelly" all the time, and having to take extra steps to keep clean.

First off, this is a bit unfair, not to mention sexist.

I mean, let's just ignore the fact that there is an entire aisle of hygiene products for women.

Yes, I'm pretty sure women's genitals perpetually exude the aroma of fresh raspberries and cream, especially around that time of the month.

There is so much a woman has to do to keep clean, tidy and fresh-smelling down there, but let's give intact men all the shit for it.

What's an intact man's penis supposed to smell like?
Giving advice to one woman self-conscious about her smell, another woman gave this advice:

 "Your vagina is supposed to smell like a vagina, not a mango. If your partner complains about the natural smell or taste of your vagina, they can go fuck a mango." ~Lily R. Mason

I want to bring attention to the contrasting advice that women get vs. what men get.

While most women are told to love their bodies as they are, men get body shamed. Why is this?

Why can't intact men get similar advice as above?

A penis is supposed to smell like a penis, not some tropical fruit.

Partners that complain about the natural smell or taste of your penis should go eat a banana or something.

What's the right way for an intact man to wash?
First off, let's start with how NOT to wash.

Ever been told to retract your foreskin and use soap and water to wash under it?

WELL, FORGET THIS ADVICE.

It's wrong.

As it has been mentioned before on this blog, sadly, doctors in the United States are geared towards circumcision, and they gear their patients and their parents towards circumcision, so any information they give is often wrong for one or all of the following:

• They were taught misinformation in med school regarding anatomically correct male organs and they never bothered to do any actual research on the matter (Why should they? Their patients are all going to be circumcised anyway, right?)
• They're pulling it out of their rear end (As doctors with PhDs, they need to sound like they know what they're talking about, even when they actually don't.)
• They are quite deliberately giving patients and their parents misinformation that will give them iatrogenically caused problems that they can use as an example of why all males need to be circumcised

Soap should never be used to clean the delicate mucosal tissue on the inside of the foreskin and on the glans because:

• It disrupts the natural flora of the penile microbiome
• It can dry out the mucosal tissues on the inside of the foreskin and on the glans, which are normally supposed to be moist and supple.

If you use soap to wash under the foreskin, you run the risk of giving yourself a yeast infection (AKA balanitis) and a reason for charlatan doctors to suggest circumcision.

In the industrialized world, including the US, women are told not to use soap or to douche too often for the same reason; it results in disruption of the natural flora that grow in the vagina and around the vulva, increasing the risk for a yeast infection.

So how should an intact man wash?
If he can, he should retract the foreskin of the penis, and let water from the shower head fall over it. Using his fingers he should play with the foreskin to knock loose any smegma and let the water wash it away. Once he is finished, he should pull his foreskin back up over the penis. That's it. The whole process takes two or three seconds to complete.

 When in the shower, merely pull back the foreskin as far back as it will go

and allow water to wash over it. Use your fingers to knock any smegma loose

and let the water wash it away. When you're finished, put the foreskin back

over the glans. This should take no longer than a few seconds.

Video of a Man Showing How It's Done
The following video shows a man in the shower demonstrating how intact men usually wash down there. As it is a naked man in the shower, please be advised that this video is not suitable for work.




Hygiene in Children and Early Adolescents
It has been mentioned in a previous post, but it is common for the foreskin not to be retractable in children and adolescents. Usually, baby boys are born with the foreskin fused to the glans, so not being able to retract the foreskin is normal in babies. Research conducted in Europe and Japan shows that retraction can take place anywhere between 0 and 17 years of age, the median age for retraction being 10 years of age.

Do not listen to a doctor that says a child's foreskin should be retracted and washed with soap; this advice is mistaken and the doctor is giving parents potentially harmful advice that can result in serious, permanent damage.

DO NOT FORCIBLY RETRACT YOUR CHILD'S FORESKIN
Forced retraction can cause bleeding, infection and other complications.

Do not attempt to forcibly retract your child's foreskin, as this can result in injury.

Do not let a doctor forcibly retract your child's foreskin.

Beware of doctors who insist that they must retract your child's foreskin. When taking your child for checkups, warn your doctor not to retract your child's foreskin. If your doctor disrespects your wishes, you may be able to take legal action. Click on this link for further information.
 

What respected medical organizations have to say on early, forced retraction

Medical associations advise not to forcibly retract the foreskin of an infant, as this interferes with normal penile development, and may result in scarring or injury.(1)(2).

Camille et al (2002), in their guidance for parents, state that:

"[t]he foreskin should never be forcibly retracted, as this can cause pain and bleeding and may result in scarring and trouble with natural retraction."(3)

Simpson & Barraclough (1998) state that:

"[n]o attempt should be made to retract a foreskin in a child unless significant separation of the subpreputial adhesions has occurred. Failure to observe this basic rule may result in tearing with subsequent fibrosis and consequent [iatrogenically induced] phimosis. ..."(4)

The American Academy of Pediatrics cautions parents not to retract their son's foreskin, but suggest that once he reaches puberty, he should retract and gently wash with soap and water.(5) The Royal Australasian College of Physician as well as the Canadian Paediatric Society emphasize that the infant foreskin should be left alone and requires no special care.(6)

Forcibly retracting the foreskin in babies, children and young adolescents can result in permanent injury that may require surgery. Some sneaky doctors may actually be deliberately giving this "advice"; they see a price tag at the end of your child's penis.

So how should you clean your child's penis?
First off, do not try to retract your child's foreskin, especially in a baby or a young child.

Merely wash his penis without retracting the foreskin as you would any other part of his body, like his fingers or toes. No special care is needed.

 Clean your child's penis like you would any other port of his body.

First, wipe the shaft like you would a finger, wiping between the

shaft and the scrotum. Next, clean around the scrotum, between the

folds of skin where the child's legs connect with his abdomen.

Always leave the anus and surrounding areas for the very last.

In an older child, ask if he is able to retract the foreskin, and if he can, let water fall over it washing away any buildup.

If your child can't retract, or can only partially retract
Sometimes, the foreskin becomes completely retractable all at once, sometimes it takes time, and the retraction process happens in increments. Your child may be at a stage where the foreskin is still adhered to the glans and the foreskin only retracts half-way, for example. Sometimes most of the glans is visible, but the foreskin is attached to the glans just above the corona. Your child's foreskin may be tight and not allow for retraction at all. This is normal and your child's foreskin will come loose as time passes, as the child experiments with himself in the shower, or when he's by himself exploring his body. Remember, complete retraction can happen any time between 0 and 17 years old, 10 being the median age. Please read more about the foreskin retraction process here.

Ask your child to retract as far as he can without feeling discomfort, and let water wash over the exposed part of his glans. Then ask him to pull his foreskin back forward to the default covered position, and he's done.

Never ask your child to retract his foreskin further than is comfortable for him. Some children retract earlier and quicker than others, and in some children the process is slow. But don't worry; a child's foreskin usually becomes fully retractable with time. Never forcibly retract a child's foreskin, as this can result in serious, sometimes permanent injury. Please read more about the foreskin retraction process here.

A word of caution regarding bubble baths
Some, though not all children, may be sensitive to chemicals in soaps and bubble baths. Exposing the inner mucosa of the foreskin to soap or bubble bath in these children may cause the foreskin and surrounding areas to become inflamed. For this reason, it's not a good idea to allow your baby to soak in soapy water or bubble baths.

If you notice that your child's penis may be inflamed, discontinue the use of the bubble bath solution immediately, and/or do not allow your child to sit in soapy water. It could be that chemicals are interfering with the natural flora in the microbiome of your child's penis. Sometimes trying a different, mild soap is advised

Instead, allow your child to sit in warm, non-soapy water after washing and rinsing his body thoroughly.

Keep in mind that this advice is nothing special; it is the same advice given to parents of girls, where some soap products may cause inflammation in a baby girl's vulva, and in cases where a baby girl's genital become inflamed, discontinuing the use of bubble bath solution and/or changing soaps is advised. 

Related Posts:

My Doctor Says I Should Get Circumcised

Medical References:

1. "Care of the Uncircumcised Penis". Guide for parents. American Academy of Pediatrics. September 2007. http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/bathing-skin-care/Pages/Care-for-an-Uncircumcised-Penis.aspx.

2. "Caring for an uncircumcised penis". Information for parents. Canadian Paediatric Society. July 2012. http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/circumcision.

3. Camille CJ, Kuo RL, Wiener JS. Caring for the uncircumcised penis: What parents (and you) need to know. Contemp Pediatr 2002;11:61.

4. Simpson ET, Barraclough P. The management of the paediatric foreskin. Aust Fam Physician 1998;27(5):381-3.

5. American Academy of Pediatrics: Care of the uncircumcised penis, 2007

6. Royal Australasian College of Physicians. (2010) Circumcision of Infant Males.