U.S. News & World Report (March 25): Circumcision Guards Against STDs

[Cuivië]

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/03/25/circumcision-guards-against-stds.html

The usual it-reduces-AIDS-and-STIs-in-Africa argument, that again fails to control for other variables--such a sexual practices, gender power differentials, access to regular, reliable health care--and thus undermines the validity of their conclusions. The lead author of this study, Dr. Thomas Quinn or Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, says that he hopes this study will impact public policy regarding the official recommendation of medical bodies for infant circumcision governmental aid for the provision of infant circumcision. It also promotes the myth that there are little complications of infant circumcision (the official measures of these don't consider damage to the remaining tissues and loss of sensivity, etc. to be complications).

Please post a comment on this story. Remember to not descent to the level of some of the pro-circ jerks there. Have righteous anger, but be driven by compassion and rationality and not blind rage so as to not give them more fuel.

I'm preparing my response now.

[Joseph]

I already wrote in. God, its the same re-hashed SHIT.

"...he hopes this study will impact public policy regarding the official recommendation of medical bodies for infant circumcision governmental aid for the provision of infant circumcision."

We all know THIS is what he's after. He could give a shit about STD transmission.

*EDIT*

I think I know why this sudden "study": There is currently intactivist activity in Washington right now.

http://www.stopinfantcircumcision.org/2009SICshed.htm

Hopefully the people protesting there will use the DC HIV spike to their advantage to show studies don't correlate with reality...

[Cuivië]

Some hope.

In THE WALL STREET JOURNAL coverage of this, there's a quote by the American Academy of Pediatrics:

"In light of the new data coming out of the African trials, the American Academy of Pediatrics says it is reviewing its circumcision guidelines, a process that should be finished by the end of the year. "There's no argument that the trials that have been done are really compelling," says Susan Blank, chairwoman of the academy's task force on neonatal circumcision. "That is just one piece in the discussion of circumcision." The academy's panel also includes experts on urinary-tract infections, ethics and health-care finance among others, she says."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123802256715541879.html#articleTabs%3Darticle

[Cuivië]

God, the more coverage I read of this study in the popular media, the madder I get. I can't believe such shoddy science is getting such press time. The BBC's take on it had saner ending:

The reason why a foreskin might increase the risk of infection with various viruses is unclear. However, research has suggested that a man with a damp penis has a greater risk of being infected by HIV. Various reasons for this have been put forward, including wetness allowing viruses to stick more easily to the penis, or creating tiny ulcers on the surface of the penis through which a virus might enter.

Dr Colm O'Mahony, a sexual health expert from the Countess of Chester Foundation Trust Hospital in Chester, said the US had an "obsession" with circumcision being the answer to controlling sexually transmitted infections.

He said: "Sure, a dry skinned penis is a bit less likely to contract HIV, herpes and possibly genital warts but it will get infected eventually."

Dr O'Mahony also said pushing circumcision as a solution sent the wrong message.

"It suggests that it is women who infect innocent men - let's protect the innocent men.

"And it allows men who don't want to change their irresponsible behaviour to continue to sleep around and not even use a condom."

Keith Alcorn, from the HIV information service NAM, also warned against a knee jerk reaction.

He said: "We have to be careful not to take evidence from one part of the world and apply it uncritically to others.

"Male circumcision will have little impact on HIV risk for boys born in the UK, where the risk of acquiring HIV heterosexually is very low.

"Girls can be vaccinated against HPV and so protected from cervical cancer, and condoms protect against herpes."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7960798.stm

Emphasis added by me: THANK GOD someone else out there in the media recognizes this craziness for what it is—a US obsession for circumcision! Why is it an obsession, because we have consumerist, profit-mongering need to cut the end of little boys' dicks off so someone else can make a buck.