Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS became an epidemic, medical disease control researchers have been exploring the statistics that show a correlation between male circumcision and a lowered risk of HIV infection.
Many medical practitioners believe that there is still ample room for data analysis to justify an 'HIV prevention male circumcision program' for countries where AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases are surging.. however, is the wait to compile more data fully justified if the possibility of disease control by male circumcision can save lives truly exists.. even though the overall health impact has not been fully quantified?
'The implementation of male circumcision as an HIV prevention strategy decreases the risk of urinary tract infections, cancer of the penis and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, the virus that causes AIDS' (the journal of medical ethics).
The circumcision procedure by a doctor is often done without anesthesia takes a few minutes where the doctor carefully clamps the loose sheath fold of skin, cuts it off and quickly puts a yellow powder called 'bismuth subgallate' on the penis inner lining to control bleeding; the end result of this procedure prevents the skin flap from hooding over the urethra.
In the past it was believed that the procedure was deliberately done without anesthetic to deter a masturbation habit later in life. Today some anti-circumcision activists claim that circumcision is related to impotence problems later in life. As male infants around the world continue to be circumcised for various medical, social or religious reasons, the topic surrounding newborn male circumcision is still an ethically sensitive and delicate issue that many medical practitioners believe is based on erroneous and historically outdated information.
According to the Circumcision Information Resource Centre, even though most circumcisions performed in Canada are for non-religious reasons, in the Jewish faith that has held the practice for over 4000 years, circumcision is an important religious ritual that supports the coming of age customs of the Jewish tradition.
Although the practice is widespread it is no longer considered a popular choice, worldwide studies show that less than 1 in 4 males (less than 24% of men) are circumcised, yet when the reason is strictly for religious tradition the debates spark many human rights issues.
Comments
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 author wrote,"Many adult males that were circumcised as infants sometimes seek foreskin restoration later in life to reverse their circumcision procedure mainly because of the belief that it may heighten sexual pleasure. Perhaps some only tried this technique to provide sufficient skin by stretching to recover some of the excess removed as an infant. Note that as an infant, a small amount of skin removed for "cosmetic" reasons may result in a very large skin deficit in adulthood. Perhaps circ should be reserved for those who are fully developed. By then, the skin to be removed is more easily determined.
Waiting to compile more data is the correct route. More than 200 infants die every year from their circumcision procedures. Infants do not die because they were not circumcised. UTIs can always be treated with antibiotics. Penile cancer skin cancer and is a a treatable cancer requiring an in office procedure. A man should never die because of penile cancer. The studies finding circumcision is effective in preventing HIV infections is a fraud. If the study were true, circumcision would have the same effect as the polio vaccine. Instead, with 80% of adult males circumcised in The US, we have the highest HIV infection rate among the industrialized nations that have insignificant circumcision rates and the demographic with the highest circumcision rate, African Americans, also has the highest HIV infection rate. 48% of all male and 80% of all female HIV infectees are African Americans. This is just not possible if circumcision had any protective effect.
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I had problems with tearing and bleeding before and a condom was like a loose band-aid and very insufficient protection for me and my partner so I acted responsibly by having the procedure done as an adult.
Once I was circumcised the recovery took about a month and it was tough because the stitches hurt with my early morning rise but now I enjoy better sex, I still use condoms and I last a lot longer in love making.
There is no way I can restore exactly what was there naturally with surgery or create more or less sensitivity in doing so, with any surgery there are risks so I did my own research to find an experienced doctor with good references.
I can see how men in some third world country tribes get infected with Aids when the procedure is done to all of them with the same dirty tool. Introducing a corrective health program and condoms is a good opportunity to make education an integral part of it. Thank you for your post.
I do believe that whether a man is circumcized or not , it is NOT an assurance , that do prevents him from acquiring HIV... Truly i agree that , ABSTINENCE, FAITHFULNESS and CONDOMS are so essential for men, inorder for him to get rid of the dreaded disease... However, i would recommend on CIRCUMCISION for men, if we speak on the hygienic side of the person... but, that doesn't make him an exemption to/or maybe able to acquire the disease if he is not extra careful....
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