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Table 1: A comprehensive risk-benefit analysis of infant MC


Risks from not circumcising:      
Condition Level of evidence [*] Fold increase Number Needed to Treat [†]
Urinary tract infection (infants) 1++ 10 50
Urinary tract infections (lifetime) 2+ 5 4
Pyelonephritis (infants) 2+ 10 100
- with concurrent bacteraemia 2+ 200 1000
- childhood hypertension 2 - 1500
- end-stage renal disease (lifetime) 2+ - 500
Candidiasis 2 2 10
Prostate cancer 2 1,5-2 6
Balanitis 2++ 3 10
Phimosis 1++ infinite 10
High-risk HPV 1++ 3 2
Genital herpes (HSV-2) 1+ 1,35  
Syphilis 1+ 3 200
HIV infection 1++ 3-8 1000
Penile cancer 1++ >20 1000
In female partner:      
Cervical cancer 1++ 4 -
Chlamydia 2+ 4 -
HSV-2 2+ 2 -
Bacterial vaginosis 1+ 2 -
Thus risk in an uncircumcised male of developing a condition requiring medical attention over their lifetime = 1 in 2      
Risk associated with medical MC in infancy:      
Condition   Fold increse Number Needed to Harm [††]
Local bruising at site of injection of local anesthetic (if dorsal penile nerve block used)   0,25++ 4
Infection, local   0,002 600
Infection, systemic   0,0002 4000
Excessive bleeding   0,001 1000
Need for repeat surgery (if skin bridges or too little prepuce removed)   0,001 1000
Loss of penis   close to 0 1 Million
Death   close to 0 over 1 Million
Loss of penile sensitivity   Low High
Thus risk of an easily-treatable condition = 1 in 500 and of a true complication = 1 in 5000      

Abbreviations:
[*] = As per Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) grading system for evidence-based guidelines [87], which ranges from 1++ (highest) to 4 (lowest).
Values shown are based on statistics for USA (for source data see review [18] and references cited in the present article)
Abbreviations:
Number needed to Treat [†] = i.e., approximate number of males who need to be circumcised to prevent one case of each condition associated with lack of circumcision.
Number needed to Harm [††] = i.e., approximate number of males that need to be circumcised to see one of each particular (mostly minor) adverse effect.

Table 2: Approximate figures for benefits of circumcision in infancy versus circumcision later


Condition Infancy Later Critical age for maximum benefit
UTI 10x 5x birth, highest risk in 1st year of life
Phimosis 5-infinity 5-infinity birth
Balanitis 3x 3x birth, higher risk after onset of sexual activity
Hygiene n/a n/a birth
HIV-Infektion 3-8x 3-8x onset of sexual activity
HPV 2x 2x onset of sexual activity
HSV2 1,3x 1,3x onset of sexual activity
Thrush 2x 2x onset of sexual activity
Penile cancer 3-22x less protection level unclear if performed after childhood

References:
See main text for references to each condition.

Table 3: Complications and their frequency for medical MC of men in RCTs in
South Africa (3.8%, all mild or moderate),
Kenya (1.7%, all mild or moderate) and
Uganda (4% mild, 3% moderate [breakdown not disclosed] and 1% severe [shown])


Condition South-Africa Kenya Uganda
Bleeding post-op 0,6% 0,4% 0,08%
Infection 0,2% 0,4% 0,04%
Wound disruption 0% 0,3% 0,04%
Delayed healing 0,1% 0,2% - [*]
Swelling or hematoma 0,6% 0,1% -
Severe pain 0,8% 0% [**] -
Appearance problem 0,6% 0% -
Damage to the penis 0,3% 0% -
Too little skin removed 0,3% 0% -
Anesthesia-related event 0,06% 0,1% -
Problem urinating 0% 0% -
Other 0,3% 0,4% -
Death 0% 0% -

References:
Refs: [56-58], respectively.
[*] = Dashes indicate that the item was not reported in the publication.
[**] = At the 3-day post-operative visit pain was zero in 48% of men, mild in 52% and severe in none.