Male circumcision for prevention of STI

Abstract

This presentation describes evidence from 3 randomized controlled trials of male circumcision in Africa (Uganda, Kenya and South Africa) for the prevention of sexually transmittted infection (STI) transmission. It concludes that circumcision provides partial protection against genital ulcer disease and viral infections (HPV and possibly HSV-2) but little protection against urethral infections, and that there is some evidence of protection against vaginal infections in women; that the effect of circumcision on HIV in men is largely independent of the impact on STI; and that the results from trials were not always consistent – further data on the impact in different settings is needed as the scale-up of circumcision continues