Circumcision health benefit virtually nil, study finds
Little evidence that world’s most common surgical procedure can prevent sexually transmitted infections, urinary tract infections and penile cance
André Picard
Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010
Source: The Globe and Mail
While it is the most common surgical procedure in the world, there is virtually no demonstrable health benefit derived from circumcision of either newborns or adults, a new study concludes.
The sole exception seems to be using circumcision to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV-AIDS in adult males in sub-Saharan Africa, though it is unlikely that benefit carries over to other parts of the world where rates of HIV-AIDS are much lower.
The research, published in Tuesday’s edition of the Annals of Family Medicine, shows that, despite claims, there is little evidence that circumcision can prevent sexually transmitted infections, urinary tract infections and penile cancer.
There are also risks to the surgery that, while rare, range from sexual dissatisfaction through to penile loss.
“Patients who request circumcision in the belief that it bestows clinical benefits must be made aware of the lack of consensus and robust evidence, as well as the potential medical and psychosocial harms of the procedure,” said Guy Maddern, of the department of surgery at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide, Australia, and lead author of the study.
In newborns, he said, the surgery is “inappropriate” because it offers no therapeutic benefit.
About one-third of males worldwide undergo circumcision, the surgical removal of the prepuce (or foreskin).
The procedure is done principally for religious, cultural and social reasons.
Religious male circumcision is practised under both Jewish and Islamic law, and it is an integral part of some aboriginal and African cultural practices.
The main social reasons the practice has continued is a widespread desire that boys resemble their fathers, and a belief that boys who undergo circumcision have fewer health problems.
The new study, a systematic review (a compilation and analysis of previously published research), looked only at the latter point.
Dr. Maddern and his research team found no evidence that uncircumcised men have higher rates of penile cancer. In fact, they noted penile cancer is extremely rare and seemingly unrelated to the presence of a prepuce.
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