title: Male circumcision and herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in female partners: a randomized trial in Rakai, Uganda.
abstract: Male circumcision reduces acquisition of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) in men. We assessed whether male circumcision reduces HSV-2 infection among female partners. HSV-2-negative, human immunodeficiency virus-negative female partners of 368 males who were and 372 males who were not randomized to receive male circumcision were enrolled. The incidence of HSV-2 infection among females over a period of 2 years was 6.09 cases per 100 person-years in the intervention arm and 6.32 cases per 100 person-years in the control arm (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.96 [95% confidence interval {CI}, .62-1.49]; P = .87). Among female partners of HSV-2-positive males, the incidence of HSV-2 infection was 9.55 cases per 100 person-years in the intervention arm and 11.17 cases per 100 person-years in the control arm (IRR, 0.85 [95% CI, .44-1.67]; P = .62). Contrary to findings in males, male circumcision did not affect HSV-2 acquisition among female partners.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. atobian1@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Aaron A R
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Tobian
authors.forename: Godfrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kigozi
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Redd
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Serwadda
authors.forename: Xiangrong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nalugoda
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Ronald H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wawer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002944:Circumcision, Male; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012747:Sexual Partners; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult