Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.In regards to STD's and HIV, are bodily fluids exchanged through the head of the penis or through the foreskin of the penis?
Mark H. Katz, M.D.
Regional HIV/AIDS Physician Coordinator
Kaiser Permanente of Southern California
It is the sexual fluid, i.e. ejaculate (and possibly pre-ejaculate) which are known to potentially transmit HIV. This would of course come from the urethra, whether the male is circumcised or not.
However, on a related issue, men who are not circumcised who are not HIV-positive stand a higher chance of becoming infected if they are in the "company" of infected fluid from someone else. The uncircumcised glans is more porous, and thus more able to allow infected fluid to enter, or "seep through," if you will.
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