Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2009 Jan;200(1):42.e1-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2008.07.069. Epub 2008 Oct 30.

The effects of male circumcision on female partners' genital tract symptoms and vaginal infections in a randomized trial in Rakai, Uganda

Ronald H Gray  1 , Godfrey Kigozi, David Serwadda, Frederick Makumbi, Fred Nalugoda, Stephen Watya, Laurence Moulton, Michael Z Chen, Nelson K Sewankambo, Noah Kiwanuka, Victor Sempijja, Tom Lutalo, Joseph Kagayii, Fred Wabwire-Mangen, Renée Ridzon, Melanie Bacon, Maria J Wawer
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The effects of male circumcision on female partners' genital tract symptoms and vaginal infections in a randomized trial in Rakai, Uganda

Ronald H Gray et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess effects of male circumcision on female genital symptoms and vaginal infections.

Study design: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative men enrolled in a trial were randomized to immediate or delayed circumcision (control arm). Genital symptoms, bacterial vaginosis (BV), and trichomonas were assessed in HIV-negative wives of married participants. Adjusted prevalence risk ratios (adjPRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were assessed by multivariable log-binomial regression, intent-to-treat analyses.

Results: A total of 783 wives of control and 825 wives of intervention arm men were comparable at enrollment. BV at enrollment was higher in control (38.3%) than intervention arm spouses (30.5%, P = .001). At 1 year follow-up, intervention arm wives reported lower rates of genital ulceration (adjPRR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.63-0.97), but there were no differences in vaginal discharge or dysuria. The risk of trichomonas was reduced in intervention arm wives (adjPRR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.05-0.98), as were the risks of any BV (adjPRR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.38-0.94) and severe BV (prevalence risk ratios, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.24-0.64).

Conclusion: Male circumcision reduces the risk of ulceration, trichomonas, and BV in female partners.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Gray RH, Kigozi G, Serwadda D, Makumbi F, Watya S, Nalugoda F, Kiwanuka N, Moulton LH, Chaudhary MA, Chen MZ, Sewankambo NK, Wabwire-Mangen F, Bacon MC, Williams CF, Opendi P, Reynolds SJ, Laeyendecker O, Quinn TC, Wawer MJ. Male circumcision for HIV prevention in men in Rakai, Uganda: a randomized trial. Lancet. 2007;369(9562):657–666. - PubMed
    1. Bailey RC, Moses S, Parker CB, Agot K, Maclean I, Krieger JN, Williams CF, Campbell RT, Ndinya-Achola JO. Male circumcision for HIV prevention in young men in Kisumu, Kenya: a randomized controlled trial. Lancet. 2007;369(9562):643–656. - PubMed
    1. Auvert B, Taljaard D, Lagarde E, Sobngwi-Tambekou J, Sitta R, Puren A. Randomized, controlled intervention trial of male circumcision for reduction of HIV infection risk: the ANRS 1265. Trial PLoS Med. 2005 Nov;2(11):e298. Epub 2005 Oct 25. Erratum in: PLoS Med. 2006 May;3(5)e298. - PMC - PubMed
    1. WHO/UNAIDS New Data on Male Circumcision and HIV Prevention. WHO/UNAIDS Technical Consultation, Montreux, March 6–8, 2007. Geneva: WHO/UNAIDS; 2007. Mar 28, Policy and Programme Implications. Conclusions and recommendations. pp. 1–19.
    1. Reynolds SJ, Shepherd ME, Risbud AR, Gangakhedkar RR, Brookmeyer RS, Divekar AD, et al. Male circumcision and risk of HIV-1 and other sexually transmitted infections in India. Lancet. 2004;363(9414):1039–1040. - PubMed

Publication types