foreskin day 2026: your foreskin questions answered

The Earth turns, the tides rise and retreat, the sun catapults through the universe, and Foreskin Day is upon us once more. The immutable ballet of the cosmos cycles on, and naturally our thoughts return to the wonderful world of foreskin. 

Since our first Foreskin Day in 2024, we’ve had so many new questions come in from customers, coworkers, and on social media. This year, we thought the world would benefit from a helping hand, and so we sat down with our Size Specialist Cosmo to answer all your questions. From the scientific, to the salacious, to the silly, Cosmo is here to save the day, and make sure no foreskin question goes unanswered.

The Scientific:

Q: How do I put on a condom if I have foreskin?

Cosmo: If you’re not sure how to put on a condom if you have a foreskin, don't worry you’re not alone. This is one of the most common questions we receive, and unfortunately there isn’t a lot of information available out there. Most people are unsure whether or not they should retract the foreskin before putting the condom on. Through our work in closing the foreskin gap in condom education though, we were able to determine that there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to retracting.

You can read more here about the dilemma, but essentially it all comes down to comfort. If you find that it’s more pleasurable for you to retract your foreskin prior to putting the condom on, make sure that when you measure up for your MyONE® Custom Fit® size code (called a FitCode), you also retract your foreskin, and vice versa.  And whether you’re team up or team down, you’re sure to have a pleasurable experience if you use a properly fitting condom that enables your foreskin to move naturally without constriction and discomfort. 

Q: What is the female equivalent of a foreskin?

Cosmo: Male and female genitals develop from the same tissue during the early stages of life, and so they are extremely similar when it comes to the structure, and the purpose of all the components. The female equivalent of the foreskin is known as the clitoral hood, a fold of skin that surrounds and protects the clitoris. Just like the foreskin, it isn’t merely a superfluous flap, it’s a fold of tissue that serves a critical purpose when it comes to sexual health and pleasure. Both the foreskin and the clitoral hood share the essential task of surrounding and protecting the glans of their accompanying organ, the penis and the clitoris respectively. They ensure the pleasure centers of the genitals are kept safe and protected while also enhancing their overall sensitivity.

Much like the foreskin, the clitoral hood is built for pleasure. It can glide and move back and forth to provide stimulation and even help promote the flow of natural lubrication. And just like foreskins, they vary in size, shape, and color, so everyone will have different experiences and expectations. Additionally, focusing on the clitoral hood of a partner or during masturbation can be just as enlightening as a foreskin-focused experience, as the extra nerve endings present in the clitoral hood make it a hotbed for pleasure and sensual exploration. 

Q: Do you make condoms for people with foreskins?

Cosmo: Based on our legendary Foreskin Day Survey in 2024, we found that the main issue for people blessed with a foreskin when it comes to condom use, is that the condom will bunch up in the foreskin and/or constrict movement.  Regular condoms are too tight for 50% of people, and a condom that doesn’t allow for a little breathing room is more likely to become entangled in the foreskin and constrict movement. That’s why so many of the people we surveyed preferred our MyONE® Custom Fit® lineup of 52 condom sizes; they were able to find a FitCode that enabled them to enjoy the natural gliding action of their foreskin without having to worry about friction and breakages. 

For those lucky enough to have a proper fit with standard sized condoms, there are also few amazing options under our ONE® brand. Mainly our thinner and extra lubricated ONE® styles such as Vanish®, Super Sensitive™, and UltraFeel®. As well as our styles with a little extra room at the head such as Legend™ XL and Pleasure Plus®. 

Pleasure Plus specifically is a great option for people with foreskins, as it features a unique pouch at the tip with a ribbed texture for pleasure. The pouch moves back and forth during sex, stimulating both partners simultaneously. It specifically targets the frenulum as an area to focus pleasure. Take a look at all of our Foreskin Favorites here!

The Salacious:

Q: How to perform oral sex on a penis with a foreskin?

Cosmo: This is by far one of the most common questions out there, and probably one of the most difficult to answer. Giving head to a penis with a foreskin can be a very different experience for both partners, especially if the giver isn’t familiar with foreskin in the first place. Like with anything else, communication is key when it comes to pleasing your partner, and all penises and foreskins are different so there isn’t one surefire strategy to make the experience special. However there are a few things to keep in mind when you come face to face with the pleasure hoodie. 

For most people, the first instinct is to completely retract the foreskin and then get to work like they’re used to. However for people with foreskins, that can be overwhelming due to the increased sensitivity of their glans. So first, just be gentle, take your time, and make sure your partner isn’t overly stimulated. 

From there, we recommend focusing on the gliding action of the foreskin. This gliding motion is usually the main source of pleasure for people with foreskins, as opposed to direct friction or stimulation from the mouth, and this holds true with blowjobs as well as vaginal or anal sex. Gently retract and return the foreskin over the head using your mouth repeatedly, and don’t forget to pay a little extra attention to the frenulum if you really want to drive your partner wild. Just go slow and steady at first and let the penis function naturally. Don’t fight the foreskin or try to forget about it, work with it, let it guide you, let it glide freely and joyfully. Because after all, it’s not the size of the boat that matters, it’s the motion of the ocean. 

And of course as always, make sure you’re communicating with your partner. Check in and see what feels good for them and what just doesn’t work. Even if you follow every tip here to the, every person is different, and every penis is different, so when you’re using your mouth, don’t forget to use your words. For more tips on foreskin pleasure in general, check out our blog here.

Q: Does having foreskin make you more sensitive?

Cosmo: Yes! The foreskin is not simply just an extra flap of skin, it’s a double-layered, retractable, invertible sheath of tissue that works in wonderful harmony with the other parts of the penis. All together a foreskin has an average of 30-50 square centimeters of surface area and countless specialized nerve endings that increase pleasure and sensitivity. 

The foreskin itself is one of the most sensitive part of the penis and additionally increases overall penis sensitivity during stimulation. The protection it provides to the glans increases sensitivity there by preventing keratinization – the process by which skin hardens and loses sensitivity as a result of exposure to air and/or friction against abrasive clothing. If you’re looking for one single spot to drive you or your partner wild, pay a little extra attention to the frenulum; the spot where the foreskin connects to the glans on the underside of the shaft. Everyone with a foreskin will also have a frenulum, it looks like a small V just below the head. Even for those without a foreskin, usually at least a small part of it remains after circumcision. Many people report that the frenulum is the most sensitive part of their penis so it only makes sense to pay some extra attention to it. Gentle stimulation there is a surefire way to take your pleasure to the next level!

Q: Do you need to use lube if you have a foreskin?

Cosmo: Does a cookie need to have chocolate chips in it to be delicious? Of course not! We love sugar cookies and snickerdoodles and gingersnaps, but we certainly wouldn’t complain if someone loaded them up with chocolate chips. 

The same goes for penises with foreskins. No, don’t put chocolate chips in there, but consider trying out something new! A lot of people with foreskins simply don’t require lubricant; especially when masturbating, as the natural glide of the foreskin reduces friction. But when it comes to sex with a partner, a little drop of ONE® Move is sure to enhance the experience and increase pleasure for penises with foreskins and without. We recommend adding a drop or two inside the condom before putting it on to increase your pleasure. All of our condoms are lubricated with pure silicone fluid as well, so if you don't feel like taking that extra step and getting your own, you’ll still be ready to go!

The Silly:

Q: Can foreskin prevent frostbite?

Cosmo: Theoretically, we don’t see why foreskin wouldn’t help when it comes to preventing frostbite. After all, people wear hoodies when it’s cold out to stay warmer, why wouldn’t a hoodie on your penis accomplish the same thing? So while we could be bold and make the claim that foreskin prevents frostbite, we’re plagued with the burden of additional questions like:

Why would your penis be exposed to subzero temperatures in the first place?

Why not just go inside?

What about your scrotum and testicles? Wouldn’t they freeze first?

All that is to say, probably? But it’s definitely not something you should rely on when push comes to shove, and definitely not something we recommend testing on your own. Whatever you do, keep your foreskin and your glans safe and cozy. 

Q: Can you store things in your foreskin?

Cosmo: Again, theoretically, you can store a lot of things in your foreskin. And in practice, we’ve heard people using it for that exact purpose. Check out our blog here where we highlight one of our customers who loves stuffing their hoodie full of Skittles for safekeeping. Despite how fun that sounds, just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should. 

The foreskin is part of a very sensitive ecosystem, and when it comes to sexual and genital health specifically, it’s never good to introduce unexpected variables. So while your partner may be encouraging you to load up your foreskin with Skittles or boba pearls, we encourage you to think how your foreskin would feel. Can’t you just use a plastic baggie or something? Doesn’t your foreskin do enough for you already? Do you really want a UTI?

Q: Can you blow up foreskin like a balloon?

Cosmo: Sigh.

Really? People really want to blow up their foreskins like a balloon? Why? So they can hear it squeak as they let the air out? Or do they think they’ll start floating up up and away? Some people say there’s no such thing as a stupid question — some people are wrong. No, you can’t blow up a foreskin like a balloon. No you shouldn’t try. No, you shouldn’t ask someone else in the hopes of receiving a different answer. Your foreskin is there to protect you and to pleasure you, the least you can do is treat it with some respect. And if you really have a hankering for inflating something, grab an extra condom and go to town. Just make sure it’s not used, and you discard it afterwards, as blowing it up like a balloon is not part of our definition of ‘typical use’. 

That about covers (no pun intended), all of the most common questions we’ve received over the past few years. However, our work is never done. If you’re unsure about anything covered in this blog, or have any other questions related to foreskins, condom use, and pleasure, you can #AskCosmo directly here. Or you can reach out to our Size Specialist team here.