Circumcision helps avert HIV

[Ogun]

[color=#c6cdf3]I seem to remember that some of you had been saying you wish you had not been circumcised, because the foreskin leads to extra sensitivity. Well, be happy you were. A new study in Africa, where HIV is quite prevalent and usually transmitted heterosexually, proves what has been thought for some time: Circumcision cuts your risk of catching HIV. Scientists in Africa recruited 3,274 uncircumcised heterosexual men. All of them wanted to be circumcised. Half were circumcised at the beginning of the study, half were scheduled to be circumcised at the end. The men were counseled in safe sex and told to not have sex for 6 weeks so they could heal. The study had planned to go on for 21 months, however, at 18 months the project was stopped because they already had their answer; 49 of the uncircumcised men had received HIV, while only 20 of the circumcised men had. (Note that heterosex[/color]

[color=#c6cdf3]Apparently certain cells prevalent in the soft foreskin, Langerhorne cells, are easily infected with HIV and are close to the surface, quickly drawing in HIV and transporting it to the immune system; when this is removed, the hardening of the penis head during healing helps further protect from infection. Note however that this is not complete protection; one should still be careful. [/color]

[color=#c6cdf3]If circumcision provides all these benefits to young men, clearly it?s at least as helpful-if not more- for younger men. So circumcise your boys early![/color]

[CelticMuscle]

Originally Posted by Ogun

[color=#c6cdf3]Scientists in Africa recruited 3,274 uncircumcised heterosexual men. All of them wanted to be circumcised. Half were circumcised at the beginning of the study, half were scheduled to be circumcised at the end. The men were counseled in safe sex and told to not have sex for 6 weeks so they could heal. The study had planned to go on for 21 months, however, at 18 months the project was stopped because they already had their answer; 49 of the uncircumcised men had received HIV, while only 20 of the circumcised men had.

Total Sample Size: 3,274
Circumcised: 1,637
Uncircumcised: 1,637
HIV Cases in circumcised: 1.22%
HIV Cases in uncircumcised: 2.99%

Mmm, sounds rather doubtful to me. Do you have a link to the actual study?

[Bazorba]

Variance between the two is not statistically significant to warrant a judgement on which way is more effective

Originally Posted by CelticMuscle

Total Sample Size: 3,274
Circumcised: 1,637
Uncircumcised: 1,637
HIV Cases in circumcised: 1.22%
HIV Cases in uncircumcised: 2.99%

Mmm, sounds rather doubtful to me. Do you have a link to the actual study?

[glammaman2000]

....very happy to hear the vast majority stayed healthy.