January 6, 2010

Study: Circumcision Lowers HIV and Bacterial Infection Risks

Circumcision not only reduces the risk of HIV transmission in men, but also drastically changes the bacteria on the penis, reducing the risk of HIV and bacterial infection transmission to female partners, suggests a study published in PloS ONE and reported on by United Press International. The study was part of a larger initiative by the National Institutes of Health to examine the “human microbiome,” or microbes that exist on and within the human body.

“Our randomized trials have shown that male circumcision prevents HIV infection in men and protects their female partners from vaginal infections, especially bacterial vaginosis,” said senior author Ronald H. Gray, MD, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

After circumcision, the glans of the penis is exposed to more air and, specifically, oxygen, according to the article. This is important, Gray explained, because “[anaerobic] bacteria, which cannot grow in the presence of oxygen, have been implicated in inflammation and a number of infections affecting both men and women.”

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Previous Comments:

Doreen, Sherman Oaks, 2010-01-27 21:32:02
I am for circumcision, sorry guys, this is what I grow up with and this is what I believe. Nothing will change my mind, as to the danger, well we can all get hit by a car and die. Circumcision has many benefits, it can prevent urinary tract infections, phimosis, paraphimosis, and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. For example, in a randomized control trial, circumcision reduced the risk of acquiring HIV infection by 53%.

Mike A, Nicholasville KY, 2010-01-14 08:08:55
These studies that say circumcision reduces risk of HIV just make me sick. I am circumcised and it didn't keep me from getting HIV, nor has it many friends I have that are poz. Lets stop disrespecting mans right to a whole and natural body and get the facts, condoms prevent the spread of HIV not genital mutilation!

Kevin, Minneapolis, 2010-01-12 11:57:23
While it may be true that bacteria can grow under foreskin and cause inflammation, it is not make genital mutilation justifiable. Foreskin is natural and boys can be taught proper hygiene.

Paul, , 2010-01-08 04:27:27
Circumcision is medical fraud. I'm fed up with all this media promoting genital mutilation. Circumcision doesn't preven tanything; it's a cure in search of a problem. Let the child decide what he wants to do with his penis when he's old enough. HIS body HIS choice

James Loewen, Vanocuver, 2010-01-07 19:33:08
The group of opportunistic "doctors" who promote circumcision to "prevent AIDS" are guilty of overlooking human rights as they force their genital mutilation agenda on African infants and children. Circumcision to prevent anything and everything has a 140 year history of medical fraud. Healthy, happy human beings do not need their genitals cut down to have safer sex. Condoms prevent AIDS, circumcision does NOT!

Darren Mitton, Rome GA, 2010-01-07 19:12:18
This is SUCH propaganda... Frankly, I expected less biased (and blatantly so) stories. I expect news, not bias and propaganda from scalpel-happy surgeons. Circumcision is genital-mutilation. Studies have PROVEN it is no more hygienic and it is possibly dangerous.

TOMKO, Providence, 2010-01-07 16:37:08
"...male Circumcision prevents HIV infection in men...". So is it only uncut guys becoming infected? More crap from the pro-circumcision "scientific" groupies!

PJ, , 2010-01-07 07:02:00
Men- Skip circumcision! Men and women- If you're concerned about bacteria, consume more probiotics, including lactobacillus acidophilus taken orally and applied topically. This will increase the number of good bacteria inside the body and upon the skin, and help counteract the harmful bacteria. Most stores sell probiotics today, and they're not hard to find. This dietary approach is far less invasive than putting knives to the genitals.

PJ, , 2010-01-07 07:00:10
The same group of U.S. researchers keep looking for newer and crazier ways to promote circumcision. If it weren't so serious, it would almost be comical. These individuals have a compulsion to circumcise. Perhaps the next study should be a study of the researchers, to discover why they have such an unhealthy fixation with cutting off healthy foreskins.