Circumcision and cervical cancer

Critical Appraisal published in Canadian Family Physician, Vol. 49, 1096-97, September 2003. The author attempts to answer the question if circumcision is warranted as a preventative measure against HPV and cervical cancer. Using only 7 case-control studies, the author's results were ambiguous and and apparently tied to other factors. "If both male and female partners were at low risk of infection, the women's risk of cervical cancer was similar whether their partners were circumcised or uncircumcised."

Seven case-control studies determined the bottom line that

• Male circumcision is associated with reduced risk of genital HPV infection in men whether or not their female partners have cervical HPV or cervical cancer.
• Circumcision is associated with reduced risk of cervical cancer in women with high-risk sexual partners.
• In men with low-risk sexual behaviour and monogamous female partners, circumcision makes no difference to the risk of cervical cancer.

See the letters criticizing this article at Evidence sketchy on circumcision and cervical cancer link .