Male circumcision and herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in female partners: a randomized trial in Rakai, Uganda

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.