WHO says: Male circumcision should be part of HIV prevention
Thursday, March 29, 2007
JC Jones MA RN
Researchers have known for years that circumcision significantly reduces the spread of HIV virus in men, and that uncircumcised men are 3 times more likely to contract HIV. Male circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin from the penis. Researchers state that removal of the foreskin makes it more difficult for the virus to penetrate the skin of the penis. The underside of the foreskin has special immunological cells which are targets for the HIV virus. Male circumcision is associated with a lower risk of male genital diseases like cancer of the penis, balanitis and phimosis.
Some studies indicate that women partners of circumcised males have a lower risk of cervical cancer.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that based on studies in Kenya, Uganda and South Africa, male circumcision reduces the risk of heterosexually transmitted HIV infection in men by 60%. Surprisingly, only 30% of men worldwide are estimated to be circumcised. Health experts recommend that circumcision be offered as part of safe sex promotion practices. They want to make clear that circumcision does not provide complete protection against HIV and other diseases, and all other practices such as use of condoms should be followed.
HIV/AIDS is the most serious health problem in much of Africa, including Uganda. Ugandan experts cite the tragic situation they face in losing a generation to whom the elderly would traditionally impart their wisdom. Circumcision rituals are an integral part of this wisdom. In many African cultures, the circumcision ritual takes place during puberty and marks the child's acceptance into the tribe as an adult. Boys are often circumcised in a group. During the period of recuperation after the ceremony, the newly circumcised are taught tribal history and traditions. Health care workers are calling for male circumcision services to be delivered in a manner that is culturally sensitive and adhere to medical ethics and human rights standards of informed consent, confidentiality and absence of coercion.
Getting the word out to populations who may not have access to this information will be the responsibility of every clinician. Make sure to talk to the sexually active males in your practice today. Find out if they are circumcised. Educate them and their partners about the health advantages of circumcision. Refer them for circumcision services and help stem the tide of HIV transmission.
Thank you JaxinCPT for use of your photo Makishi dancers wiping away footprints.
16 Comments:
At Fri Mar 30, 12:49:00 PM 2007,
Anonymous said…
You say that circumcision significantly reduces the spread of HIV virus in men - and that uncircumcised men are 3 times more likely to contract HIV.
You haven't mentioned the use of a condom. By using a condom a man's protection is significantly greater than if he had been circumcised. By using a condom his chances of contracting the HIV Virus is almost nil.
Why is surgery being offered, when there is a non surgical solution available for resolving this problem?
At Tue Apr 03, 10:51:00 AM 2007,
JC Jones MA RN said…
Um, gee, maybe you didn't read my whole post? I clearly state
" Health experts recommend that circumcision be offered as part of safe sex promotion practices. They want to make clear that circumcision does not provide complete protection against HIV and other diseases, and all other practices such as use of condoms should be followed." Also, sometimes, people in monogamous relationships want to ditch the whole condom thing after a while. Thanks JC
At Sat Apr 07, 07:36:00 PM 2007,
Anonymous said…
Yeah, reducing your chances to 60/40 of contracting HIV is totally worth cutting off otherwise healthy, functioning tissue... (please note sarcasm)
Why is there even any attention being paid to this, when a condom already does a far better job, and cannot be done away with in any case? Circumcision then becomes a medical redundancy, and is really a moot point.
If it reduced your risk to under 1%, that would be one thing, but 60/40? That's still like playing Russian roulette with only 2 bullets instead of 5. Still stupid.
At Mon Apr 09, 11:01:00 PM 2007,
chabrol said…
As a medical doctor male penis circumcision DOES NOT STOP or PREVENT infection. Actually circumcision INCREASES the rate of infection on the penis. Furthermore why does the USA who mutilates majority of their infant males INSIST on this bizarre brutal and UNETHICAL action on males especially on INFANTS when they CANT decide for themselves and will be subject to further violation of thier body rights by a parental decision and the socalled informed medical community ?
Europe DOES NOT CIRCUMCISE and has lowest HIV infection rate in world while AFRICA (62% circumcised) and USA (75 % males circumcised) has albeit both highest HIV infection rates in world and western world respectively. Finally you talk of no coercion and consent SINCE WHEN HAS MALE PENIS CIRCUMCISION BEEN FOLLOWING THOSE PRECENTS ? WHEN
99 % OF ALL MALES CIRCUMCISED ARE VIOLATED AT BIRTH. STOP THIS ARRANT NONSENSE. A FEMALE VAGINA HAS 5,000 TIMES MORE SKIN THAN ANY MALE PENIS YET THEY DONT GET VIOLATED THEY JUST WASH LIKE ANY MALE CAN AND SHOULD !!!
MALE CIRUCMCISION OF BABIES IS GENITAL ASSAULT AND RAPE STOP THIS BIZARRE ACTION
At Tue Apr 10, 11:43:00 AM 2007,
Anonymous said…
I need information on a a rare disease. It is called Triploid Syndrome, or Triploidy Syndrome. I have a big project that is due very soon. I'm just asking for help. PLEASE!!!
At Fri Apr 13, 01:12:00 AM 2007,
Anonymous said…
It has been discovered that total removal of the penis (penectomy) results in 100% protection from HIV as a result of heterosexual intercourse. Using the same warped logic and recognizing our backward society's complete disregard for the horrible consequences of the barbaric practice of circumcision (severe pain to the unanesthesised infant, reduced sexual function, psychological harm, violation of the human right of corporal integrity, complications including total loss of the penis and death), one can deduce that the WHO, in its blind quest, will be recommending penectomy in the near future.
Also, your blog is simple circumcision advocacy, as betrayed by your comment linking circumcision to reduced cervical cancer. If female mutilation resulted in reduced penile cancer, do you believe it would be appropriate to extoll its benefits? Of course not. Supposed health benefits for women are no reason to mutilate infant boys.
At Fri Apr 13, 02:02:00 PM 2007,
Anonymous said…
Mmh,if circumcision reduces the risk of HIV infection by 60% I think what you are trying to suggest is that removing the whole penis reduces the risk of infection by 100%!!! Why not cut the whole thing!! MAD SCIENTIST!!
At Mon Apr 16, 10:29:00 AM 2007,
JC Jones MA RN said…
OK guys, I hear you. See my counterpoint post YOU Say: Genital Integrity Rules! Geez, I'm not exactly the World Health Organization here, but thanks for writing.
http://www.healthline.com/blogs/healthline_connects/2007/04/you-say-genital-integrity-rules.html
At Sun Apr 22, 11:24:00 AM 2007,
Neon said…
if cirucumcision does lower the chances of hiv/aids why not to give it a go?
but why do african muslims have high rate of hiv infection?
At Fri May 04, 02:13:00 AM 2007,
jagodjope said…
This whole thing must be not scientific but some kind of politics & economical gains being played around to enable surgeons get extra cash from the cut and African politicians talk of being aman to lead only when circumsised.
If it were its 100% then OK why mediocre percentage!!!!!.Stop lying with science please.
At Sat May 26, 04:42:00 AM 2007,
Anonymous said…
Mnnh, well, since male circumcision can reduce sex infection by 60%, what are we waiting for? Lets go out and campaign for all men to be circumcised since there are benefits.
Mr Scientist, I am too old to confuse because the "clause" you used in your analysis is ambiguous and you failed to expatiate it. Ok, if I may ask, how many times can a circumcised person have sex without condom and be safe? If answers are Zero, why are you encouraging circumcisions?
I know that I am neither Mr Scientist nor WHO but I would tell you that uncircumcised male/female enjoys sex more than circumcised male/female. Maybe, you are one of the "Fox" in a story tales, which wanted to deceive others to be like him because of false reason or the other. Please, keep your research outcome for yourself!
At Sun May 27, 09:36:00 PM 2007,
Anonymous said…
about that 60/40 thing...
somebody didn't pay attention in elementary school math class.
3 times more likely means,
1 chance in circum + 3 chances in uncircum = 4 total chances in total
which is 25/75.
maybe you need more schooling, before you preach anyone...
At Thu May 31, 02:44:00 PM 2007,
S.S. said…
It is important to remember there is actually a market for these foreskins, they are used in research, skin grafts and cosmetics. consider that plus the possible religious reasons and you have the makings for a desire to alter data and or jump to conclusions.
At Fri Aug 03, 11:17:00 AM 2007,
rls3439@aol.com said…
When you choose to leave your son genitally intact (i.e. UNcircumcised), you have done precisely the right thing. He will be grateful.
Congratulations.
rls
At Tue Nov 13, 09:39:00 AM 2007,
Parris said…
The practice is not only barbaric, but is surgically an ethically questionable practice. Many of the arguments for circumcision ignore there are many less intrusive means of correcting any negative aspects of having an intact penis. Condoms, in the case of the WHO findings should be pushed as the accepted means of HIV transmission reduction, as removing of the foreskin is not a significant reduction of risk, esp. when considering promotion of circumcision as a means of aids infection rates among uneducated, poor populations, may lead to a false sense of security and an increased instance of non-condom use during intercourse.
At Thu Sep 11, 02:11:00 PM 2008,
Anonymous said…
I don't necessarily agree that circumcision should be used as the primary form of HIV prevention. There are many other ways to prevent the spread of HIV, like using a condom and not having unprotected sex. I think circumcision is a very individualized and personal decision, with physical, cultural, and social factors to consider. There is a great debate about circumcision at www.opposingviews.com/questions/should-boys-be-circumcised Experts from both sides debate the issue and make some very interesting points to consider on the topic.
Post a Comment
<< Home