Male circumcision provides a degree of protection against acquiring HIV infection, equivalent to what a vaccine of high efficacy would have achieved.

"Randomized, controlled intervention trial of male circumcision for reduction of HIV infection risk: the ANRS 1265 Trial."
PLoS Medicine. 2005 Nov;2(11):e298.


Over forty observational studies have reported a protective effect of male circumcision against HIV-I acquisition.

"Feasibility of medical male circumcision in Nyanza Province, Kenya."
East African Medical Journal. 2004 May;81(5):230-5.


We conclude that nontherapeutic circumcision of infant boys is a suitable matter for parental discretion.

"Between prophylaxis and child abuse: the ethics of neonatal male circumcision."
American Journal of Bioethics. (Harvard University) 2003 Spring;3(2):35-48.


Multiple lifetime medical benefits of neonatal circumcision can be achieved.... Cost benefits of circumcision resulted from prevention of infant urinary tract infection, balanoposthitis, phimosis, HIV infection and penile cancer.

"Cost analysis of neonatal circumcision in a large health maintenance organization."
Journal of Urology. 2006 Mar;175(3):1111-5.


The merits of neonatal circumcision continue to be debated hotly. The medical benefits of circumcision are multiple, but most are small. The clearest medical benefit of circumcision is the relative reduction in the risk for a UTI (urinary tract infection), especially in early infancy. In the case of a patient with known urologic abnormalities that predispose to UTI, neonatal circumcision has a clearer role in terms of medical benefit to the patient. Most of the other medical benefits of circumcision probably can be realized without circumcision as long as access to clean water and proper penile hygiene are achieved. Regarding the relationship between STDs and circumcision, patient education and the practice of low-risk sexual behavior make a far greater impact than does routine circumcision in hopes of reducing the spread of HIV and other STDs. Nevertheless, in areas where safe sexual practices are poorly adhered to, circumcision can have a relative protective effect against the transmission of HIV and other STDs. The medical harms of circumcision lie mainly in the 1% acute complication rate and the additional patients who require revision of their initial circumcision for cosmetic or medical reasons. Special interest groups have argued that perhaps the greatest harm of circumcision is in performing an operation without a clear indication. Many of these groups have claimed that performing a routine neonatal circumcision is akin to performing a surgical procedure without a clear medical benefit, and in an infant, that is akin to surgery without informed consent. Although this is an extreme posture, the clinician can understand the emphasis on trying to provide invasive medical services only when a clear medical benefit is expected, especially when treating an infant or child. Clearly, the procedure provides potential medical benefits and potential risks. It is difficult to say whether the benefits outweigh the risks for all male infants.

"Neonatal circumcision." Pediatric Clinics of North America.
2001 Dec;48(6):1539-57.