Genitourinary infections related to circumcision and the potential impact on male infertility

Abstract

Male circumcision (MC) is one of the oldest surgical procedures still completed today. Medical indications for MC include phimosis, recurrent balanitis, cosmesis, and infection prevention. In this review, we mainly focus on the role of MC in the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus, human papillomavirus, herpes simplex virus, gonorrhea, chlamydia, chancroid, and syphilis, and the subsequent impact of these genitourinary infections on male fertility. Overall, many compelling data support that MC may play an essential role in both genitourinary infection prevention and male fertility.