March 20, 2008

Circumcision Does Not Protect Against All STIs

Although research has shown that circumcision can help protect men from contracting HIV through sex with women, it may not protect them from other sexually transmitted infections, Reuters Health/Yahoo News reports (news.yahoo.com, 3/19).

Researchers from New Zealand examined approximately 500 men, 40 percent of whom had been circumcised in their childhood. The researchers recorded information about sexually transmitted infections, including genital warts, chlamydia and genital herpes. They found no significant statistical difference in the rates of STIs among the men who were circumcised and those who were not.

“It appears unlikely that circumcision has a major protective effect against common sexually transmitted infections…although a small effect cannot be ruled out," the researchers write.

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