Should all men be circumcised?

7.11.2011 | By: Izabela M

The circumcision of foreskin on the penis supposedly reduces the chances of becoming infected with three dangerous sexually transmitted diseases.

Further surveys will supposedly try to find out if circumcision also reduces the chances of the woman becoming infected. (PhotoXpress)

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From what sexual diseases does circumcision supposedly protect us?

Circumcised men supposedly have 35 percent less of a chance of becoming infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer and genital warts. There’s also 30 percent less of a chance of becoming infected with genital herpes. Surveys in Africa showed that circumcised men supposedly have 60 percent less of a chance of contracting AIDS. The New England Journal of Medicine also reports about the surveys in Africa. They also write that circumcision protects men from three other sexually transmitted diseases, which was shown by a recent survey in Uganda.

American experts support circumcision

Even though there’s only a small percentage of circumcised men in the world (around 30 percent), in America 80 percent of the men are circumcised. An international team of researchers claims that circumcision, the removal of skin at the top of the penis, should be a generally accepted method for preventing sexually transmitted diseases among heterosexuals. “It must be emphasized that protection was only partial, and it is critical to promote the practice of safe sex,” they also wrote. But the percentage for sexually transmitted diseases is still higher with men who aren’t circumcised.

It’s not yet clear why and how circumcision reduces the chances of becoming infected with sexually transmitted diseases, but experts believe that it’s the foreskin of the penis that’s most sensitive to HPV and herpes. The survey was conducted under the guidance of the National Institutes of Health. Further surveys will supposedly try to find out if circumcision also reduces the chances of the woman becoming infected.