Friday, March 26, 2004

According to Circumcision Seen as Method to Block HIV Infection
LONDON (Reuters) - Circumcised men are less likely to be infected with the virus that causes AIDS because of biological reasons and not less risky behavior, scientists said on Friday. Studies have shown that men whose foreskin has been removed are six to eight times less likely to become HIV positive but there has been some debate about the reason for the lower infection rate.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University Medical School in Baltimore, Maryland found that circumcision had a protective effect against HIV, but not against other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as syphilis or gonorrhoea.

"The specificity of this relation suggests a biological rather than behavioral explanation for the protective effect of male circumcision against HIV," Dr Robert Bollinger said in a report in The Lancet medical journal. Although male circumcision is common in the United States, the practice varies throughout the world and is influenced by cultural and religious attitudes.

Okay, so a condom might not work because the HIV virus was said to be small enough to pass through the pores in Latex.... BUT foreskin helps stop it? Really.... that's just great. And since when was circumcision COMMON in the United States? Not from what I've heard.

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