Circumcision could save millions from AIDS

Millions of new HIV infections in Africa could be avoided if more men were circumcised, an International AIDS Society conference was told on Tuesday. Studies in Africa have found that male circumcision, the world's oldest surgical procedure dating back to 2300 BC, reduces HIV transmission from females to males by 60 percent. Story

Finally this well known fact is getting some publicity. It would certainly be excellent if all males in Africa were circumcised but the reality is that it will not happen. However, in the US this possibility might one day come to fruition. Many people in the US scoff at the idea of circumcision and classify it as some type of religious ceremonial procedure. It is on the contrary a medical procedure that can have great benefit. Few realize that an uncircumcised penis is a very dirty one and is far more prone to disease. Requiring (or encouraging) newborn male babies to be circumcised would bring great public health benefits to this Country. Most hospitals, if they don't already, should be able to quickly and safely perform this procedure. Perhaps now that circumcision has been acknowledged to reduce HIV transmission more American potential parents will consider the procedure.