The results of a new study conclude that male circumcision provides significant, immediate protection against HIV. Circumcised men in the study were 63 percent less
likely than uncircumcised men to be infected through sex with
HIV-positive women, whereas the AIDS vaccine has a target of 30% risk reduction, and may not be available for up to 20 years.
French AIDS researcher Bertran Auvert presented his
study's findings yesterday at the International AIDS conference, which are based on 3,300 South African men, the largest study to date.
He encouraged the promotion of circumcision, and adaptation of the public health system, as part of a health initiative in Africa.
The idea that circumcision helps prevent HIV is not a new one, but health officials have hesitated to make it part of their overall HIV prevention strategy, because of it's strong religious and social implications, and the risk of complications for those who choose circumcision, if the procedure is not performed correctly, or in unsanitary conditions.
With AIDS becoming increasingly widespread (there were an estimated 5 million new cases last year), and 2/3 of the world's men being uncircumcised, it remains to be seen whether or not circumcision will be a viable means of curtailing the world infection rate.
Would this new information encourage you to circumcise your son, as a means of future HIV protection, whereas before, you wouldn't have?
