Penile circumcision in adult males is the surgical removal of the loose, excess foreskin from the head of the penis. As a fact, the foreskin is highly vulnerable to the risks of HIV infection and at such times, the penis provides some bit of protection against HIV for heterosexual men. Although circumcision in adult men does not protect most from contracting the infection, however, it provides some form of protection for all those men who go through the circumcision procedure. Note that penile circumcision does not also protect women from the exposure to HIV, but prevents HIV transmission.
What is Adult Circumcision?
You should know that circumcision is a surgery that is popular for its countless benefits, and it prevents the risks of men encountering diseases. These days, in the medical community, circumcision remains a common sexual health concern and a widely accepted one in various religions.
In the past, the practice of circumcision was a cultural and religious ritual in Jewish as well as some Islamic families. It was also a common practice among certain aboriginal tribes in countries like Africa and Australia. Today, this Circumcision Center surgical procedure is a minor one that helps to remove the foreskin of the penis, which is the tissue that covers the tip or head of the penis (glans). In many families, it is a tradition for personal hygiene as well as a preventative health care.
In some cases, circumcision in men is due to certain medical conditions, but in parts of Africa, it is a procedure suggested for boys and older men to reduce the risks of contracting STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) and infections. Most medical studies also claim that that circumcision helps to decrease the chances men getting Urinary Tract Infections.
Why is Penile Circumcision Common in the United States
Recently, the CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) endorsed circumcision in men as a prophylactic measure against diseases that continue to draw media attention to a controversial surgery in America. A draft of guidelines issued by the CDC in December emphasized that the latest in medical science indicates some clear health benefits of the circumcision surgery in men. Including about 60% reduced risk of male to female HIV transmission and 30% reduced risk of the transmission of the HPV virus (Human Papilloma Virus). It also lowers the risks of urinary tract infections in younger and older boys.
Based on this data, the CDC recommends that most healthcare workers should counsel adolescent uncircumcised boys and men along with parents of newborn males on the potential risks and benefits of the circumcision surgery. It is also best that you clear your understanding of the different Adult Circumcision Myths by exploring your options over the internet and through the help of specialists.
How Circumcision Reduces the Risks of HIV Infection
Since the foreskin of the penis is highly vulnerable to the risk of attracting HIV infection, it also serves as the main route by which the virus finds its way into a man’s body, causing infections during intercourse. Removal of the foreskin of the penis makes it difficult for the virus to find its way into the body at such times.
For several reasons, the foreskin is highly susceptible to HIV infection. First, the foreskin of the penis is delicate and it could sustain minor tears during intimate activities. Such tears eventually make way for the HIV virus to find its way into the body easily. The tears lead to inflammation, which also increases HIV transmission further. In addition, this causes a higher concentration of different cells HIV prefers to infect (Langerhans cells) in the penis foreskin than in other parts of the penis. In the end, HIV infected fluids would trap under the foreskin of the penis and remain there even after intercourse.
The World Health Organization Also Promotes Circumcision in Other Countries
The WHO (World Health Organization) also recommends voluntary circumcision in men as a preventative measure against HIV in countries where heterosexual HIV is an epidemic, with a prevalence of over 15%. It also expands various programs to alert adult men in many Southern and Eastern African countries.
According to the World Health Organization, as much as 30% of the world men also go through circumcision. Out of these, most men are Muslim living in the Middle East, Asia and North America and less than 1% are for Jewish men.
The risk of HIV in adult men continues to increase worldwide, it is necessary that men take the right precautions to keep the risks of getting this disease at a minor level. Before the procedure, it is best that you take your time and consult professionals who could guide you on the procedure, the technique they use and the duration of care you need to follow.
