To the Editor: The article by Spilsbury et al starts well by acknowledging at least some of the serious health consequences of not circumcising,1 but then digresses into a study of whether a particular medical reason for circumcision — namely phimosis early in life — has been overstated in medical records.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
Correspondence:
- 1. Spilsbury K, Semmens JB, Wisniewski ZS, Holman CDJ. Circumcision for phimosis and other medical indications in Western Australian boys. Med J Aust 2003; 178: 155-158. <eMJA full text>
- 2. Morris BJ. Benefits of circumcision: medical, health and sexual. Available at: http://www.circinfo.net (accessed May 2003).
- 3. Schoen EJ, Colby CJ, Ray GT. Newborn circumcision decreases the incidence and costs of urinary tract infections during the first year of life. Pediatrics 2000 105: 789-793.
- 4. Wiswell TE. The prepuce, urinary tract infections, and the consequences. Pediatrics 2000; 105: 860-862.
- 5. Schoen EJ. Neonatal circumcision and penile cancer. Evidence that circumcision is protective is overwhelming. BMJ 1996; 46: 313.
- 6. Castellsague X, Bosch FX, Munoz N, et al. Male circumcision, penile human papillomavirus infection, and cervical cancer in female partners. N Engl J Med 2002; 346: 1105-1112.
- 7. Quinn TC, Wawer MJ, Sewankambo N, et al. Viral load and heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1. N Engl J Med 2000; 342: 921-929.
- 8. Weiss HA, Quigley MA, Hayes RJ. Male circumcision and risk of HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. AIDS 2000; 14: 2361-2370.
- 9. Patterson BK, Landy A, Siegel JN, et al. Susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection of human foreskin and cervical tissue grown in explant culture. Am J Pathol 2002; 161: 867-873.
- 10. Williamson ML, Williamson PS. Women's preferences for penile circumcision in sexual partners. J Sex Educ Hlth 1988; 14: 8-12.
Online responses are no longer available. Please refer to our instructions for authors page for more information.