Subincision

Subincision is a form of body modification, consisting in a urethrotomy in which the underside of the penis is incised and the urethra slit open lengthwise, from the urethral opening (meatus) to the base, theoretically exposing the previously closed nerve-dense urinary tract tissue to enhanced sexual pleasure.

Subincisions can greatly affect urination and often require the subincised male to sit while urinating. The scrotum can be pulled up against the open urethra to quasi-complete the tube and allow "normal" urination, while a few subincised men carry a tube with them to aim with. Reported advantages of subincision include greater sensitivity and the effect of increased width. Disadvantages include the risk of surgery, which is often self-performed, and increased susceptibility to STDs. The ability to impregnate (specifically, getting sperm into the vagina) may also be decreased. Subincisions heal quickly—usually within 4 weeks.

This modification of the penis was traditionally performed by the Lardil , an Australian Aboriginal tribe from Mornington Island in Queensland as a rite of passage. The young men who chose to endure this custom would be the only ones to learn a complex ceremonial language, Damin , which is the only known non-African language with click consonants. In later ceremonies, repeated throughout adult life, the subincised penis would be used as a site for ritual bloodletting. According to Ken Hale, who studied Damin, no ritual initiations have been carried out in the Gulf of Carpentaria for half a century, and hence, this language has also died out.

It has been reported that similar mutilations were practiced on Papua, employing cowry shells instead of a a stone knife, and Hawaii.

Contents

1 Related Modifications

2 External links

3 Bibliography

4 See also