What Are the Benefits of Circumcision?
Circumcision is one way to ensure your family is protected from sexually transmitted diseases. It has been shown that circumcision can lower the risk of developing prostate cancer or other health problems that affect the male genitalia. However, there are some questions that you should ask before you decide whether or not to have your children circumcised.
Penile cancer
Circumcision may lower the risk of developing penile cancer. Additionally, circumcision may lower the risk of HPV infection in the penis. This is important because penile carcinoma can be caused by a variety of factors, including HPV (a sexually transmitted disease).
Penile cancer is rare in developed countries. Penile cancer is a problem of public health in developing countries. Treatment for advanced cancers, however, may be more difficult to cure. However, early-stage treatment is almost always possible.
Invasive penile cancer is more common in men who were not circumcised as children. Two studies evaluated the effects of circumcision on invasive Penile Cancer.
Researchers were able, using statistical methods to estimate the impact of circumcision in penile cancer. They compared circumcisions in cases of invasive Penile Cancer to those that were not performed.
In most cases, circumcision was effective in preventing penile cancer. However, the effectiveness in circumcision varied depending on the case. There was a high risk for bias, including length (survival), bias.
Many factors influence the outcome of both in situ and invasive penile tumors. Some of these factors include smoking, age and HPV. For example, men who smoke have a greater chance of acquiring the disease.
A large percentage of men with invasive penile malignancies have HPV DNA. HPV is also a risk factor in cervical cancer. Men who have had PUVA Therapy, a treatment for HPV may be at higher risk of developing penile tumors.
Phimosis refers to a condition where the foreskin cannot retract. This causes the buildup of smegma (a cheese-like substance made up of dead skin cells), under the preputial skin. Chronic inflammation and increased risk of developing a cancer is associated with smegma.
Researchers conducted an observational study in Washington State to assess the effects of circumcisions on the development invasive penile cancer. The Cancer Surveillance System selected the cases.
Urinary tract infections
It has been known for years that circumcision has been associated lower rates of urinary system infections (UTIs). According to American Academy of Pediatrics, circumcision lowers the risk of UTIs by 3-10%.
Male circumcision must be performed only by a doctor. It can reduce the incidence and severity of UTIs.
It has been shown that circumcision can prevent between 87 and 261 UTIs in boys under three years of age. It also reduces the risk of recurrent UTIs in boys who have had a UTI in the past.circumcision procedure adelaide
While circumcision is a good option for boys with urinary tract infections, there are risks. Researchers have examined the incidence of UTIs in intact and uncircumcised boys.
A team of Canadian researchers discovered a 3.7-fold reduction in the rate UTI among circumcision-eligible boys. This research was limited to a single area of the country and did not consider socioeconomic factors.
Other studies also suggest that circumcision can prevent urinary tract infections. Amir J. et al. One-year-old boys were examined for UTIs. Elias Wehbi, CHOC pediatric dermatologology, conducted another study that found that male circumcision decreased the overall risk for UTIs by almost 90%.
Recently, the CDC suggested that physicians counsel adults and teens who are not circumcised about the benefits and risks associated with circumcision. Hidden biases within observational data can be addressed with a variety of analytical techniques.
Some parents choose not to circumcise their children despite the recommendation of the CDC. In fact, there are high rates in some areas of premature babies who have not been circumcised. There are concerns about whether this extra protection is worthwhile.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics acknowledges the importance of circumcision for health, it leaves the decision in the hands of parents. Although circumcision is not a preventive measure for UTIs in adults, it has been shown in studies to reduce the risk from vesicoureteral and penile cancer in female partners.
Other STIs
A variety of sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) can threaten men’s health, including gonorrhea and chlamydia. Many studies have shown that circumcision reduces the incidence of STIs, both in men and women. This claim has been challenged, even though some research supports it.
It is important to take into account all variables in order accurately assess circumcision’s impact. This includes the ages, genders, and if they had more than one partner at time of first STD.
Numerous studies have shown circumcision can reduce HIV acquisition among men. Some recent studies have not supported the idea that circumcision could significantly reduce the risk for other STIs.
Researchers also suggest circumcision can cause genital warts. Researchers also found that uncircumcised penis secretions can remain under the skin for longer periods of time, increasing the risk for urethral infections.
Other researchers have also discovered that circumcision reduces the risk of cervical carcinoma in female partners. Johns Hopkins University researchers studied 3400 males. They found that male circumcision reduces the chance of contracting a syphilis disease by 59%.
Circumcision has also been shown to reduce the risk of HPV in women. HPV is a leading cause in cervical cancer. Vaccination programs that target HPV could eliminate cervical cancer in women in the next two decades.
President Obama appointed the Hutchinson committee to review scientific literature on infant circumcision. It recently published its findings. Although there are some flaws in the report, it is a solid validation about the benefits of circumcision.
Studies that try to link circumcision with specific STIs can be biased and limited. Consequently, researchers are encouraged to incorporate all of the relevant factors into their assessment of the effectiveness of circumcision.
HIV transmission to female partner
In sub-Saharan Africa male circumcision can reduce HIV transmission to women partners. It is important that we know how effective this strategy has been in reducing the spread. Here are some statistics.
One study shows that male circumcision reduces HIV infection risk in heterosexual and homosexual women. There is a one-third reduction in the risk of contracting HIV. Penile-vaginal sex is also less dangerous. However, the risk of developing a sexually transmitted bacterial infection is not reduced.
Another study showed that HIV incidence was lower among communities where circumcision is common. For every 10% increase of circumcision, there is a 5% decrease of HIV infection. This was true for Uganda, Kenya, and Uganda. In Rakai, Uganda, which has a high rate of male circumcision, HIV incidence was not significantly different between circumcised and uncircumcised.
The Rakai STD Control for AIDS Prevention Study (RSCASP) involved 187 HIV serodiscordant couples. These couples comprised HIV-positive male partners and HIV negative male partners. They were recruited to participate in a cluster-randomized trial for preventive treatment.
The overall HIV incidence decreased using a combination ART and circumcision. During a follow-up period of 106 person years, the incidence of new HIV infections was low. The incidence of viral co-infections was also reduced by circumcision.
A World Health Organization study found that HIV transmission to female partners is much less after circumcision than it was before. This estimate should not be taken as a definitive statement, due to the wide range of studies. Despite these results, male circumcision shouldn’t be used to replace other effective prevention methods.
An analysis of HIV incidence in communities showed that the estimated IR was 7%-18% lower for a ten-percent increase in circumcisions. However, the estimated IRs did not correlate with the average ART coverage for women.
The increased shedding of the virus was also a factor in circumcision’s effect. Over 239 year-long follow-up, men who were not circumcised had an average of 40 infection. There were 24 infections after circumcision.