Regarding the issue of cervical cancer and circumcision, I concur with Cathy
Genna.  Cervical cancer has been linked to infection with Human Papilloma
virus - a sexually transmitted disease - in almost every case (>95% last
time I checked, with the suspicion that with more accurate studies they will
be able to account for even more).    The risk for aquisition of this virus
goes up with the number of sexual partners.  However, even women who have
had only one sexual partner are at risk if their partners are infected.  Men
who are circumcised are vulnerable to HPV infection, but the studies on
penile cancer in men (also linked to HPV infection, though not as solidly)
suggest an increased vulnerability in the uncircumcised man.  This may - in
part - account for a different rate of cervical cancer among partners of
uncircumcised males.  I also do not know that the results were adjusted for
number of sexual partners of the men and women involved in the study.
        The summary:  cervical cancer is related to HPV transmission, and
although circumcision may make women (and men) somewhat less vulnerable to
cancer, it does not eliminate the risk.  Therefore, although there are other
reasons for which parents might chose to circumcise their sons, teaching
them to use a condom might be a more effective means of sparing women the
risk of cervical cancer.

        Giosi Di Meglio, MD
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