Male circumcision can reduce a man’s risk of contracting HIV (the virus that causes AIDS). It may also lower the possibility of certain sexually transmitted infections.
Furthermore, men who have undergone circumcision tend to experience fewer genital warts. Furthermore, studies have demonstrated that it may reduce the likelihood of developing cancer of the penis for these same men.
Lowers the Risk of Infections
Circumcision Melbourne can reduce the risk of infections such as genital herpes and human papillomavirus (HPV) among men who engage in penile-vaginal sex. Additionally, circumcision may lower cervical cancer risks for women who have a circumcised male partner.
A two-year study in Uganda has demonstrated that circumcision was associated with reduced HIV infection and HSV infection among men who had sexual contact with other people (MSM), both overall and among those living with HIV. They further reported that MSM who had undergone circumcision had a 25% lower risk for genital herpes and 35% lower HPV risk.
Circumcision can reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), but prevention lies more with a man’s sexual practices and his partner’s use of condoms than whether he has been circumcised or not. Therefore, MSM should still use condoms when having sex with men to help guard against these infections as well as other opportunistic ones.
Prevents Balanitis
Circumcision can reduce the risk of bacterial or fungal infections that could lead to balanitis in uncircumcised men with tight, difficult-to-retract foreskin. It also provides protection against recurrent infections when uncircumcised men undergo circumcision.
Circumcised people should practice good hygiene by washing their penis and retracting it fully during bathing. Furthermore, avoid products that contain irritants like fragrances and dyes that might irritate you.
Balanitis can take many forms, such as Zoon’s, Circinate and pseudoepitheliomatous keratotic and micaceous balanitis. The most prevalent type is Zoon’s balanitis which affects middle aged individuals with uncircumcised penises.
Prevents Phimosis
Circumcision can prevent phimosis (a condition where the foreskin cannot be pulled down over the head or penis). This condition is common among uncircumcised males and may lead to infections like urinary tract or genital herpes.
Phimosis can be caused by various conditions, such as skin disorders such as psoriasis or lichen planus, conditions that lead to scarring on the foreskin like lichen sclerosis, irritation from the bladder or infection.
If phimosis persists after circumcision, a second operation to completely remove all of the foreskin from the head of the penis is typically necessary. This is an effective method for avoiding phimosis and can usually be performed under local anaesthetic in children.
Reduces the Risk of Cervical Cancer
Circumcision has the added advantage of decreasing the risk of cervical cancer, which is caused by infection with human papillomavirus types 16, 18 and some rarer varieties. A 2002 study revealed that female partners of circumcised men were 5.6 times less likely to develop cervical cancer than their non-circumcised counterparts.
Circumcision can reduce the risk of genital HPV infections in men, which are the male equivalent of cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN), the precursor to cervical cancer. In many countries, vaccines against high-risk HPV types 16 and 18 have been introduced to girls; this has had a beneficial effect on reducing HPV infection among females. These vaccines may have further ripple effects and reduce HPV infections among boys as well, according to recent studies.
Reduces the Risk of Vaginal Infections
Circumcising the foreskin can reduce the risk of vaginal infections like Chlamydia trachomatis infection and lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). These sexually transmitted illnesses cause cervicitis, urethritis, vaginitis, genital ulcers and may spread to other parts of the body such as rectum or pharynx; they have long-term consequences such as infertility and genitourinary cancers.
Studies have suggested that penile circumcision may protect against certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as herpes simplex virus (HSV), human papillomavirus (HPV) and genital ulcer disease. However, results are mixed and uncertain. Other factors like the ratio of genital discharges and genital ulcers within a population also impact its impact. Thus, even though evidence suggests circumcision has an anti-STI effect, it cannot be definitively established whether this applies universally.