Male Circumcision Significantly Lowers Risk of HIV Infection
Filed in archive News , Studies , Treatment on August 10, 2006
Even if circumcision is practiced because of health, cultural or religious reasons, still it is considered as the unkindest cut and an assault to the male sex.
These days (and in the future) the protective effect of circumcision against HIV (found in research studies) will become the best reason that will change parental expectations and medical practice across the world.
Removing the foreskin is thought to harden the glans (head) of the penis, making it less permeable to viruses. Research conducted in 2005 showed the transmission of HIV from women to men during sex was reduced by 60 per cent if the men were circumcised.
Exactly the sentiments revealed by the head of the one of the world's largest Aids charities, Richard Feachem, executive director of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, who believes that we are on the brink of a revolution in attitudes to circumcision.
In a study published last month, it was calculated that that if all men in sub-Saharan Africa were circumcised, it would prevent almost six million new cases of HIV infection and save three million lives over the next 20 years.
Such finding, according to Dr. Feachem, was one of the most significant in the battle against Aids and offered real hope of slowing the spread of the virus.
Still, this issue is to be debated at the World Aids Congress, opening next week in Toronto, Canada.
Dr Feachem said: "We know the factors that cause HIV to spread rapidly in a country - the number of concurrent sexual partners, the use of condoms, the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases and male circumcision. Other things being equal, in a circumcised population you have a low and slowly developing epidemic and in an uncircumcised population you have a high and fast developing epidemic."
He added: "Circumcision is growing strongly in popularity in South Africa and in North America. We see males seeking circumcision very commonly in South Africa. The news of its protective effect caused a substantial increase in demand for adult male circumcision.
In the UK and North America, circumcision has been considered as an unnecessary operation. Due to news of its protective effect, is now growing strongly in popularity in South Africa and in North America.
Deborah Jack, chief executive of the UK-based National Aids Trust noted and warned that circumcision plays an important role in reducing the risk of HIV transmission but circumcised male can still be infected with HIV.
Thus, it should be reiterated that circumcision does not extremely protect against HIV nor it is an alternative to using condoms.
Source: The Independent

He added: "Circumcision is growing strongly in popularity in South Africa and in North America. We see males seeking circumcision very commonly in South Africa. The news of its protective effect caused a substantial increase in demand for adult male circumcision.
Tags: circumcision AIDS male infection risk male+circumcision risk+infection lowers+risk
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Response from:
margaret
(08/15/06 9:32am)
Response from:
Gloria
(08/15/06 5:14pm)
thanks margaret for your insight. you are probably right. circumcision i think is more of a cultural practice than medical. and so should not be used as a preventive measure against HIV.
I guess this research is just meant to let people know that circumcision is an option and not as a mandatory thing.
I guess this research is just meant to let people know that circumcision is an option and not as a mandatory thing.
Response from:
Gloria
(08/16/06 9:44am)
Hello Dave,
thanks for the wonderful scientific explanation. but inspite of this male circumcision remains a big cultural/religious thing.
where I come from (the Philippines) it is automatic that boys are cicumcized after the 6th grade since time immemorial( times when scientists haven't yeat discovered the medical benefits of it), no question.
But in other places and culture that may not be the case even if medical research is now stating its medical benefits esp against HIV.
Thanks margaret and dave for all your insights.
thanks for the wonderful scientific explanation. but inspite of this male circumcision remains a big cultural/religious thing.
where I come from (the Philippines) it is automatic that boys are cicumcized after the 6th grade since time immemorial( times when scientists haven't yeat discovered the medical benefits of it), no question.
But in other places and culture that may not be the case even if medical research is now stating its medical benefits esp against HIV.
Thanks margaret and dave for all your insights.
Response from:
Mark Lyndon
(01/15/10 12:00am)
Circumcision is a dangerous distraction in the fight against AIDS. There are six African countries where men are *more* likely to be HIV+ if they've been circumcised: Cameroon, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, and Swaziland. Eg in Malawi, the HIV rate is 13.2% among circumcised men, but only 9.5% among intact men. In Rwanda, the HIV rate is 3.5% among circumcised men, but only 2.1% among intact men. If circumcision really worked against AIDS, this just wouldn't happen. We now have people calling circumcision a "vaccine" or "invisible condom", and viewing circumcision as an alternative to condoms.
The one randomized controlled trial into male-to-female transmission showed a 54% higher rate in the group where the men had been circumcised btw.
ABC (Abstinence, Being faithful, Condoms) is the way forward. Promoting genital surgery will cost African lives, not save them.
The one randomized controlled trial into male-to-female transmission showed a 54% higher rate in the group where the men had been circumcised btw.
ABC (Abstinence, Being faithful, Condoms) is the way forward. Promoting genital surgery will cost African lives, not save them.
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Sure, there will always be those who disregard the safety of others and have sex regardless of their potential exposure, but don't cast a sweeping net for surgery on all infant boys because some adults are uneducated and/or lack personal responsibility.
The reason for the high rate of HIV infection in some areas is not due to lack of circumcision. You have many countries where circumcision is not routine and yet they do not have the same issue. Address the real problems for the high numbers of HIV infection.