Male Circumcision
 | Safe, Voluntary, Informed Male Circumcision—an Opportunity for HIV Risk Reduction Throughout the world, HIV prevalence is generally lower in populations that practise male circumcision than in populations where most men are uncircum- cised.This has been observed over the years of the HIV epidemic and has now been confirmed through three randomized controlled trials concluded in 2005– 2006 (see Box 1).The trials showed that male circumcision reduces by 60% the transmission of HIV from women to circumcised men.The results have led to the conclusion that male circumcision is an effective risk-reduction measure for men, and should be used in addition to other known strategies for the prevention of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men. Download this publication |
| At the end of 2006, an estimated 39.5 million people were living with HIV and 4.3 million became newly infected with the virus that year. Prevention must be greatly prioritized in the response to AIDS and efforts are being made to find new prevention technologies to bolster the package of already known effective prevention methods. Male circumcision is one of these new potential methods, along with vaginal microbicides, pre-exposure prophylaxis with antiretroviral medication, herpes suppressive therapy, cervical barrier methods and HIV vaccines. Download this publication |
| Male circumcision is one of the oldest and most com- mon surgical procedures worldwide, and is under- taken for many reasons: religious, cultural, social and medical. There is conclusive evidence from observational data and three randomized controlled trials that circumcised men have a significantly lower risk of becoming infected with the human immuno- deficiency virus (HIV). Demand for safe, affordable male circumcision is expected to increase rapidly, and country-level decision-makers need information about the sociocultural and medical determinants of circumcision, as well as risks of the procedure, in the context of comprehensive HIV prevention program- ming. Download this publication |
| Numerous observational studies indicate that circumcised men have lower levels of HIV infection than uncircumcised men. Throughout the world, HIV prevalence is generally lower in populations that traditionally practice male circumcision than in populations where most men are not circum- cised. Download this publication |
| Male circumcision involves the surgical removal of the foreskin, the tissue covering the head of the penis. In adult men, a four to six week period is required to fully heal the wound. Healing is usually complete after about one week when circumcision is performed for babies. Download this publication |
| Global estimates in 2006 suggest that about 30% of males – representing a total of approximately 665 million men – are circumcised. Other common determinants of male circumcision are ethnic- ity, perceived health and sexual benefits, and the desire to conform to socio-cultural norms. Download this publication |
| Male circumcision is the surgical removal of all or part of the foreskin of the penis. It is one of the oldest and most common surgical procedures worldwide, undertaken for religious, cultural, social or medical reasons. Male circumcision has now been assessed as a potential means to limit the spread of HIV. Download this publication |
