Circumcision, the removal of a male\'s foreskin, may lower the risk a man will catch the infections, Fauci tells ScientificAmerican.com, because its moist environment provides the \"perfect breeding ground for viruses and bacteria.\" It can tear and develop sores easily, and if it becomes inflamed, he said, \"it gives you much more fertile ground for HIV to be transmitted.\" http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=circumcision-cuts-risk-of-herpes-hp-2009-03-25