CIRCUMCISION AND SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES

Objectives. New evidence linking lack of circumcision with sexually tr ansmitted human immunodeficiency virus revives concerns about circumci sion and other sexually transmitted diseases. This study was undertake n to assess the relationship between circumcision and syphilis, gonorr hea, chlamydial infection, genital herpes, nongonococcal urethritis, a nd exophytic genital warts. Methods. A cross-sectional study of 2776 h eterosexual men attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic in 198 8 was used to investigate the relationship between circumcision and se xually transmitted diseases. Subjects with specific sexually transmitt ed diseases and those without such diseases were compared after adjust ment for age, race, zip code of residence, other sexually transmitted diseases, and number of sexual partners. Results. A positive relations hip was observed between uncircumcised status and both syphilis and go norrhea. A negative relationship was found between warts and lack of c ircumcision. No apparent relationship was noted between uncircumcised status and genital herpes, chlamydial infection, or nongonococcal uret hritis. Conclusions. Uncircumcised men were more likely than circumcis ed men to have syphilis and gonorrhea and were less likely to have vis ible warts.