I am hoping that you read the last post about the Studies that this possible mandate is based. If not, I encourage you to do so.
I have thought about the statistics all week long. When I hear that circumcision lowers risk for HIV infection by 50-60%, I automatically think in crazy numbers. When worded that way, it leads the reader to think that only 40-50% of the circumcised males may contract the HIV virus. Or that the uncircumcised males have a 50-60% increased risk of contracting HIV.
I'd just like to point out again that this 50-60% rate that keeps getting thrown in our face is based on a HALF PERCENTAGE POINT. There were many factors involved that were not kept track of. The men received extensive counseling on the benefits of using condoms and approximately 98% of the men did not contract the HIV virus.
Circumcising Newborns:
This would be a "preventative" measure that we would not see the effects of for many years. The complication rate ranges from 20%-35% (based on those African studies!), and this must be considered when weighing benefits and risks.
Ironically, we have an HIV epidemic in the US now, and the majority of those males are circumcised. The use of condoms has been shown to reduce the spread of HIV, and there has been no evidence that being circumcised and wearing condoms is any better than just using condoms alone. We have twice as many HIV infected males in the US as does Europe and our circumcision rates are significantly higher. According to many medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, in 2005, stated that the "data on the potential medical benefits of circumcision are not sufficient to recommend routine neonatal circumcision."
The way that HIV is transmitted in the US is so different from Africa, it is hard to even compare the two. We actually have an effective social program in place with education, safe-sex practices, and consistent condom use. These methods do not require surgery, are much more cost-effective, and they work! In fact, consistent condom use reduces the lifetime risk by 20% compared to only 8% for circumcision. A recent report from South Africa shows that condom use is increasing and the HIV rates are beginning to level off. There is no evidence that circumcision will aid in this progress.
Quite honestly, it is irresponsible for the CDC to even consider promoting an intervention that will create a false sense of security, while actually increasing the risk to women. Promoting circumcision will drain resources that should be put into safe-sex education and condom promotion.
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