Circumcision doesn’t reduce HIV transmission

Condom still essential for protecting female partner, researchers say
 
 According to recent study that included 922 HIV-infected men in Uganda, circumcision doesn’t lessen transmission of HIV from infected men to women, so condom is still essential for protecting female partner

The men, who were uncircumcised before the start of the study, were randomly selected to undergo immediate circumcision or circumcision after two years. The study also included HIV-uninfected female partners of the men. The women were checked for HIV infection at six, 12 and 24 months.

The study was stopped early due to “futility.” They concluded “Circumcision of HIV-infected men did not reduce HIV transmission to female partners over 24 months; longer-term effects could not be assessed. Condom use after male circumcision is essential for HIV prevention,” .

The findings appear in the July 18 issue of The Lancet.