Population-based study of effect of circumcision on rates of common sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

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The thoughtful and careful prospective longitudinal population-based cohort study from New Zealand, published in this issue of The Journal, has important negative results. By using repeated questionnaires of mothers and then subjects over the subjects’ age span of 3 to 32 years of age, circumcised and uncircumcised men had similar reportings of common STIs. The prospective methodology, population-based sample, size of sample, and extraordinary retention of subjects (>90%) make this a powerful study.

While circumcision has been shown to have a protective effect against acquisition of HIV infection, the preponderance of evidence suggests insubstantial or no protection against common STIs.