Adult circumcision reduces HIV risk

Adult circumcision has been proven to reduce the risk of HIV spreading by two new studies presented at the 104th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA).

As well as cutting the chances of contracting HIV, the risk of coital injury is also reduced by circumcision, according to researchers in Australia and Seattle.

However, Ira D Sharlip, an AUA spokesman, commented that it is not enough to "rely on circumcision" to stop HIV being transmitted in Africa and other areas of the world.

"These are important reports which support the concepts that circumcision does not interfere with sexual function and that circumcision is an important element of HIV prevention in sub-Saharan Africa," he stated.

"At the same time, it should be emphasised that circumcision must be combined with other techniques of HIV prevention, such as safe sex and voluntary testing.

The studies found that the foreskin has the largest concentration of Langerhans' cells, which are the cellular targets when HIV is sexually transmitted.

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