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Circumcision as a Strategy to Minimize HIV Transmission

  • Men's Health (J Mulhall, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

The newest data related to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) / Acquired Immune Disease Syndrome (AIDS) epidemic is primarily positive, but many areas of the world, especially Sub-Saharan Africa, remain disproportionately affected. Between 2005 and 2007, three large randomized trials evaluating circumcision for prevention of HIV acquisition in heterosexual African males showed a reduction in the rate of acquisition of HIV by up to 66 % over 24 months. Since the results of these studies were published, global health organizations have ramped up efforts to help target countries to provide male circumcision delivery services in sub-Saharan Africa. Male circumcision (MC) is cost-effective and efficacious, especially when used in combination with other prevention strategies. Available data shows good acceptability amongst target populations. Neonatal circumcision is well tolerated and more cost effective than adult male circumcision and should be included as part of MC initiatives in the future. Behavioral disinhibition and risk compensation are important factors that may mitigate the rate of risk reduction conferred by male circumcision and should be further investigated. As delivery of male circumcision services is expanded, the issues affecting the female sexual partners of the target population must be outlined and addressed. Whether or not the results of the African trials can be extrapolated to warrant expansion of MC programs to other populations is a critical area for further study.

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Abbreviations

MC:

Male circumcision

MMC:

Medical male circumcision

UNAIDS:

Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS

WHO:

World Health Organization

CDC:

Centers for Disease Control

HIV:

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

AIDS:

Acquired Immune Disease Syndrome

ART:

Antiretroviral Therapy

TasP:

Treatment as Prevention

STI:

Sexually Transmitted Infection

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Imani Jackson Rosario reported no potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

Dr. Khushabu Kasabwala reported no potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

Dr. Hossein Sadeghi-Nejad reported no potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA

    Imani Jackson Rosario, Khushabu Kasabwala & Hossein Sadeghi-Nejad

  2. Veteran Affairs Medical Center, East Orange, NJ, USA

    Hossein Sadeghi-Nejad

  3. Department of Urology, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, USA

    Hossein Sadeghi-Nejad

Authors
  1. Imani Jackson Rosario
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  2. Khushabu Kasabwala
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  3. Hossein Sadeghi-Nejad
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hossein Sadeghi-Nejad.

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Rosario, I.J., Kasabwala, K. & Sadeghi-Nejad, H. Circumcision as a Strategy to Minimize HIV Transmission. Curr Urol Rep 14, 285–290 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-013-0343-8

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