Balanitis is an inflammation of the skin covering the head of the penis. A similar condition, Balanoposthitis refers to inflammation of the head and the foreskin. Both cause swelling, rash, pain and foul-smelling discharge.

Phimosis is a condition involving a tight foreskin that cannot be completely pulled back. This makes cleaning under the skin and passing urine difficult.

The use of condoms is essential for good sexual health regardless of circumcision. It is worth noting, however, that the risk of many STDs from HIV to genital warts is reduced by the genital hygiene effects of circumcision.

Because any infectious bacteria or viruses living under a foreskin are transferred into the female during sexual contact, circumcision reduces the transmission of diseases like Chlamydia and the associated HPV virus which causes cervical cancer.

Reduce the risk of HIV by up to 60%. The recent rise in the incidence of HIV infection among heterosexual Australians has led to a call by some physicians for the reintroduction of routine circumcision in infants as a preventative measure.

Penile Cancer is a rare but serious disease that rarely occurs in circumcised males.

Urinary tract infections are particularly dangerous in infancy and in 40% of cases can lead to kidney inflammation and disease.

Prostate Cancer is a malignant tumour, and one of the most common types of cancer in men. It usually grows very slowly.