Foreskin: Difference between revisions

Line 456:

The foreskin is highly vascularized. The high rate of blood flow helps to prevent infection.<ref name="fleiss-hodges-vanhowe1998"/>

Although claims have been made that the presence of the foreskin increases the risk of infection with [[Circumcision and HIV|human immune deficiency virus]] ([[HIV]]), that is not correct. The claims are based on the reported findings of three randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that were carried out more than a decade ago in Africa. Boyle & Hill (2011) have shown these RCTs to be have significant methodological flaws and statistical errors that render their claims invalid.<ref name="boyle-hill2011">{{BoyleGJ HillG 2011}}</ref> [[HIV#Population-based_studies| Two massive population studies]] published in 2021 found that [[circumcision]] provided no protective effect.

Although claims have been made that the presence of the foreskin increases the risk of infection with [[Circumcision and HIV|human immune deficiency virus]] ([[HIV]]), that is not correct.<ref name="renaud2026">{{REFweb

|title=Immunological and Microbial Functions of the foreskin in sexually transmitted infections

|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/403975444_Immunological_and_Microbial_Functions_of_the_foreskin_in_sexually_transmitted_infections

|archived=

|trans-title=

|language=

|last=Renard

|first=Aki

|init=

|author-link=

|publisher=Algonquin College

|website=https://www.researchgate.net/

|date=2026-04

|accessdate=2026-08-19

|format=

|quote=

}}</ref> The claims are based on the reported findings of three randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that were carried out more than a decade ago in Africa. Boyle & Hill (2011) have shown these RCTs to be have significant methodological flaws and statistical errors that render their claims invalid.<ref name="boyle-hill2011">{{BoyleGJ HillG 2011}}</ref> [[HIV#Population-based_studies| Two massive population studies]] published in 2021 found that [[circumcision]] provided no protective effect.

Fleiss et al. noted the presence of [[Langerhans cells]] in the prepuce.<ref name="fleiss-hodges-vanhowe1998"/> De Witte et al. (2007) have discovered that Langerhans cells produce ''Langerin'', which is a "natural barrier to [[HIV]] infection".<ref>{{DeWitte etal 2007}}</ref>

@@ Line 456: / Line 456: @@
 The foreskin is highly vascularized. The high rate of blood flow helps to prevent infection.<ref name="fleiss-hodges-vanhowe1998"/>
-Although claims have been made that the presence of the foreskin increases the risk of infection with [[Circumcision and HIV|human immune deficiency virus]] ([[HIV]]), that is not correct. The claims are based on the reported findings of three randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that were carried out more than a decade ago in Africa. Boyle & Hill (2011) have shown these RCTs to be have significant methodological flaws and statistical errors that render their claims invalid.<ref name="boyle-hill2011">{{BoyleGJ HillG 2011}}</ref> [[HIV#Population-based_studies| Two massive population studies]] published in 2021 found that [[circumcision]] provided no protective effect.
+Although claims have been made that the presence of the foreskin increases the risk of infection with [[Circumcision and HIV|human immune deficiency virus]] ([[HIV]]), that is not correct.<ref name="renaud2026">{{REFweb
+ |title=Immunological and Microbial Functions of the foreskin in sexually transmitted infections
+ |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/403975444_Immunological_and_Microbial_Functions_of_the_foreskin_in_sexually_transmitted_infections
+ |archived=
+ |trans-title=
+ |language=
+ |last=Renard
+ |first=Aki
+ |init=
+ |author-link=
+ |publisher=Algonquin College
+ |website=https://www.researchgate.net/
+ |date=2026-04
+ |accessdate=2026-08-19
+ |format=
+ |quote=
+}}</ref> The claims are based on the reported findings of three randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that were carried out more than a decade ago in Africa. Boyle & Hill (2011) have shown these RCTs to be have significant methodological flaws and statistical errors that render their claims invalid.<ref name="boyle-hill2011">{{BoyleGJ HillG 2011}}</ref> [[HIV#Population-based_studies| Two massive population studies]] published in 2021 found that [[circumcision]] provided no protective effect.
 Fleiss et al. noted the presence of [[Langerhans cells]] in the prepuce.<ref name="fleiss-hodges-vanhowe1998"/> De Witte et al. (2007) have discovered that Langerhans cells produce ''Langerin'', which is a "natural barrier to [[HIV]] infection".<ref>{{DeWitte etal 2007}}</ref>