Circumcision is primarily performed for cultural or religious reasons. Because a large number of men in English-speaking Western countries are circumcised, many think of the foreskin as an unnecessary part of the penis. Many circumcisions are performed because a circumcised father often does not want to feel that he is different from his son. It is often said that a circumcised penis is cleaner, or easier to keep clean, than an intact penis. These infections can, however, in most cases be treated by antibiotics.
Penile cancer is an extremely rare form of cancer.
It occurs mostly in older men, and most doctors will not recommend infant circumcision as a preventative measure. Although there is an apparent geographical correlation between male non-circumcision and HIV infection on the African continent, this is not true globally, and the pattern seen in Africa could easily be due to other factors. The only known effective means of preventing HIV infection are fidelity, condom use and abstinence. The foreskin is easy to care for and the intact penis is easy to keep clean. The foreskin usually does not fully retract for several years and should never be forced.