February 4, 2008

Does Male Circumcision Raise Women’s HIV Risk?

Recent studies have shown that circumcision can help reduce the risk of HIV infection in men. However, new research suggests that male circumcision offers no benefit to women during intercourse and potentially increases the HIV risk for women if couples resume having sex before the circumcision wound heals, reports The New York Times (nytimes.com, 2/4).

The findings were reported at the 15th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), held in Boston from February 3–8. The researchers found that male circumcision helps to lower the risk that men will contract herpes and other genital ulcers. However, a higher incidence in HIV infection was seen in women who began having sex with their circumcised partner before a health professional certified the circumcision wound had completely healed, which usually took about a month.

Scroll down to comment on this story.

Previous Comments:

Francis G. Apina, Nairobi, 2008-02-09 10:27:52
Men should not have sex immediately after circumcision the pain is normally unbearable and the woulds in most cases takes about two to three weeks for young boys and more for adult. If the finding of the research is true then i would suggest that men who want to undertake circumcision should be appropriately counselled so that they stay out of sex untill they are fully recovered. i would also apeal to women that it important they take responsibily for their own lives not to have unprotected sex

James Loewen, Vancouver, 2008-02-06 21:20:56
Despite some men's delusions about being better off with a penis reduction surgery imposed at birth, or irrational reactions to "head cheese" the topic here is women and vulnerability to HIV infection. The recent US push to circumcise Africa is beyond irrational, it is transparent. This isn't the first time feminine interests have been exploited to promote circumcision. The ulterior motives of those promoting MGM to "protect women" need to be thoroughly examined.

Drew in San Jose, San Jose, 2008-02-06 12:44:18
An unhealed circumcision like any unhealed cut or wound is exactly that...UNHEALED. Who would be so stupid as to have sex with anyone with an open wound? C'mon people, use your head--the one on your shoulders! As for circumcision aside from biblical reasons I've never understood why it's done but thankful it was done to me when I was a baby. There's nothing worse tho than some nasty head cheese. Guys, if you're uncut, for God's sake, wash that thing before even thinking of having sex. Yuk!

Tom Dossey-McKinnon, Baltimore, 2008-02-06 09:40:31
Stupic Article. Why the hell would two people have sex before the wound had completely healed? This is analgous to having sex without a condom knowing that your parnter is positive.

Mark Lyndon, , 2008-02-06 07:58:27
This study appears to have led to eight additional women being infected with HIV. There was a greater risk even after the wound had healed. Surely it would not be ethical to continue such experiments. This is not the first time that partner circumcision has been linked with increased risk of HIV in women, and yet the WHO continues to recommend male circumcision. Something is very wrong here. Why is money being diverted from ABC (Abstinence, Being faithful, Condoms) to genital surgery?

Beau, Austin, 2008-02-05 18:24:02
Why in the world would a guy even consider having sex prior to the wound healing? Unfortunately I was cut at birth, without my explicit permission, but if I had not been, I certainly wouldn't go around spreading my seed prior to being medically released from my physician if I had decided to have it done later in life. It's just totally irresponsible.

Michael, Seattle, 2008-02-05 13:14:52
I agree with Jon, what a WASTE of funding, time, and research. Besides, having dated a man who went through mid-life circumcision, it's a painful recovery process, you do NOT want to get an erection while in the healing process and it SHOULD be common sense to WAIT.

James Loewen, Vancouver, 2008-02-05 13:14:42
Male circumcision presents a far greater threat to HIV infection in women than just during the healing period. The false sense of security in circumcision will doubtless lead to more sex without condoms. For 150 years American circumcisers have been trying to justify circumcision by applying it to whatever the disease/fear of the day was. Alcoholism, epilepsy, cancers, masturbation, you name it. No surprise that HIV/AIDS would be on the list. Applying circumcision to HIV/AIDS is junk science

jon moore, NYC, NY, 2008-02-05 12:14:37
An UNhealed circumcision wound is basically an OPEN CUT. Why in the world did anyone need to do a study to find out there was risk here? It provides easy direct blood to blood contact since friction on an UNhealed wound causes bleeding. The study should be on HEALED circumcision ONLY. This is idiotic and clearly an attempt to confuse people.