It has long been known that in population groups where circumcision is performed e.g. -Jews and Muslims - cancer of the cervix is rare and penile cancer almost nonexistent. In recent years the role of human papilloma virus (HPV) in both penile and cervical cancer has been proven, and these cancers are now being thought of as sexually transmitted diseases. A recent study of over 1900 couples in 5 countries found that penile HPV infection is about 3 times as common in uncircumcised males as in circumcised males and there is about a 2.5 fold increased risk of cervical cancer in women whose sexual partner is uncircumcised and has had multiple partners.