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The 2005 American Academy of Pediatrics policy on male circumcision states that data on the health benefits are insufficient to support routine neonatal circumcision. Data available after 2005 help clarify the health benefits of circumcision.
In three recent randomized clinical studies involving about 10,000 HIV-negative men (age range, 18–49) in Africa, circumcision decreased male heterosexual acquisition of HIV disease by 53% to 60% compared with uncircumcised men during an average follow-up of 1.5 to 2 years (JW Gen Med Mar 13 2007). In two trials, circumcision decreased acquisition of herpes simplex virus type 2 infections by 28% to 34% and penile human papillomavirus infections by 32% to 35%. Some evidence suggests that female benefits …