Circumcised = Lower HIV Transmission Risk?

[moose_hd]

I was just reading up about HIV and found something I never knew:


"Does circumcision protect against HIV?"

"Research has shown that circumcised men are up to 70% less likely to contract HIV through sex. This is because the inner lining of the foreskin is thought to be particularly vulnerable to HIV. However, circumcision does not mean you cannot get HIV, it just means it's less likely. Circumcised men can also pass on the virus just as easily as those whose foreskin has not been removed."

WOW. I had no idea that something like this was possible.

Though in practical terms it should make no difference in how people behave: Use of protection and screening tests should remain unchanged because even "70% less likely" is still pretty risky, especially when dealing with something serious like HIV. Me, I wouldn't have sex with a person who hadn't been screened, regardless of whether or not I have my foreskin. (And yes, I have also had the blood test.)

[thetease13]

Depending on what article you read, depends on what kind of answer you're going to get.

Some will say yes, some will say no. Some will say that uncircumcised men will give their partner something because the foreskin traps things while others say that isn't true because more than enough uncut men clean themselves and whether you're cut or not, if you don't clean, you will harbor some things down there (which is the more true statement really).

Anyways I find this page to be helpful on some things.
http://circumstitions.com/

And here's a page on HIV:
http://www.circumstitions.com/HIV.html

[Brandye]

Earlier this week there was a question on circumcision and infection. This was first noted in Israel where the incidence of cervical is very low and almost all men are circumcised. This led to studies everywhere. Two variants of HPV are closely linked to cervical cancer. The conclusion is reoughly that the foreskin makes hygiene more difficult. The earlier post I responded to involved an inability to retract the foreskin and that makes it very difficult to cleanse properly.

As a result a variety of bacteria and viruses can set up housekeeping under the foreskin and it appears that uncricumcised men may be at higher risk for HIV and other things. They are more commonly carriers of HPV.