Circumcision and phimosis are recognised as preventive or favourable factors of penial cancer. Retrospective studies carried out on babies have demonstrated that neonatal circumcision can reduce the frequency of urinary tract infection by around 90%. Circumcision could avoid the colonisation of the genitals by E. Coli strains that colonise obstetric wards and nurseries. The alternative to circumcision is greater contact between the mother and baby after birth in order to aid colonisation of the baby by the mother's intestinal flora against which newborns have passive immunity.
