The introductory chapter of the 2018 Manual for Male Circumcision under Local Anaethesia provides an overview of voluntary medical male circumcision for HIV prevention. It includes information on the terms used for male circumcision; how the procedure is performed; the biomedical basis for male circumcision for reducing the risk of HIV infection; the World Health Organization’s minimum package of VMMC services; informed consent; and the benefits and risks of male circumcision, including benefits to female partners.