Circumcision Not Protect "Gay" from HIV

Circumcision Not Protect "Gay" from HIV

Although circumcision has been proven to prevent transmission of HIV virus in men in Africa, a similar effect was not found in homosexual men.

"Circumcision was not able to prevent HIV transmission among gay men," said Dr Peter Kilmarx, Head of the Division of HIV Epidemiology and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA. Even so, the CDC is considering to recommend circumcision on other groups, such as boys and heterosexual men who are at risk of contracting.

UNAIDS and other international health organizations to promote circumcision as a strategy to reduce the spread of the AIDS virus. Since then, the pressure to perform circumcision on male children in the United States increased.

Currently, nearly 80 percent of U.S. men circumcised for these reasons. This proportion is the highest compared to other countries. Around the world, estimated at only 30 percent of men are circumcised.

Although circumcision can reduce the spread of HIV infection in Africa and other parts of the country, the U.S. AIDS virus more about gay men. According to CDC data, gay men there for about 4 percent of the population. Half of that number are infected with HIV each year.

Previous studies showed that circumcision did not effect anything against HIV transmission if carried out anal sex. A recent study conducted by the CDC for 4900 men who do anal sex with an infected partner shows, infection rates reached 3.5 percent. The amount is estimated the same, whether he was circumcised or not.

Currently, the U.S. government had not decided circumcision obligations to its citizens. The doctors and experts at the CDC believes there is strong reason to recommend circumcision in male infants and heterosexual men are at high risk. According to Kilmarx, the definition of "high risk" is still didisikusikan.

The issue of circumcision, according to Kilmarx, is very sensitive because it touches the cultural and religious values. "There is much to be considered in addition to medical procedures," he said. Therefore, the government will provide education to the doctors and parents about the benefits and risks of circumcision.