Circumcision can reduce the risks of HIV infection, genital herpes and certain strains of Human Papillomavirus (HPV). It also decreases the likelihood of getting urinary tract infections during childhood.
Reduces the Risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections
Circumcision has numerous health advantages, one of which being its reduced risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). STIs are a serious public health concern; they can lead to serious illnesses such as gonorrhea and chlamydia; they’re even an issue in infertility cases, leaving pregnant women more vulnerable to infection.
Further, circumcision has been proven to reduce the risk of oncogenic HPV genotypes and cervical cancer in women. Furthermore, circumcision may lower bacterial vaginosis and possibly genital ulcer disease among these same women.
Circumcision Melbourne is generally a safe procedure, though it may cause some pain and discomfort. These issues are rare and usually treatable with some over-the-counter pain relievers your doctor can discuss with you beforehand.
Despite these benefits, the global burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remains high. Therefore, efforts are being made to reduce this rate through various interventions.
In order to explore the effects of circumcision on sexually transmitted infections (STIs), we conducted a study among males in Rustenburg, South Africa. After controlling for other risk factors, we observed that circumcised males were significantly less likely to develop anal and penile HPV, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HBV infections.
Reduces the Risk of Penile Cancer
Circumcision can reduce your risk of penile cancer by decreasing the likelihood that you will contract the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes this type of tumor. HPV infection has been linked to an increased likelihood of contracting various types of cancer.
Furthermore, if your immune system has been weakened due to HIV infection or other cancers, you may be more vulnerable to developing penile cancer. Therefore, it’s essential that you visit your doctor regularly for check-ups.
Another risk factor for penile cancer is phimosis, or difficulty pulling back the foreskin. Phimosis may lead to an accumulation of secretions under the skin called smegma.
Smegma can cause irritation and inflammation around the head of the penis, potentially raising your risk for developing penile cancer. Fortunately, this condition is usually treatable with medication called psoralen combined with an ultraviolet A light source.
Reduces the Risk of Cervical Cancer
Circumcision can significantly lower the risk of cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), as HPV is responsible for nearly all cases of this disorder.
Circumcision can also significantly lower the risk of other genital cancers where HPV plays a less prominent role, such as vulval and penile cancers.
Studies conducted across multiple countries have demonstrated that male circumcision can significantly reduce the risk of genital HPV infection and cervical cancer for female partners of circumcised men – but only when these men have a low HPV index.
Reduces the Risk of HIV
Circumcision has been demonstrated to significantly lower the risk of HIV infection by two to eight times, as well as protect against other sexually transmitted illnesses like syphilis and gonorrhea.
The penis is the primary site where HIV infection can enter into a man’s body, and thus most men who become infected through sexual contact have acquired this virus. There are multiple reasons why this occurs.
HIV enters the penis through cell-to-cell contact, known as virological synapse (VS). Utilizing envelope glycoproteins, HIV can penetrate through the foreskin and reach both outer epithelial surface of inner foreskin and frenulum.
Once infected, HIV then trans-infects cells through trans-infection (VS). It does this by interacting with receptors on target cells such as CD4 or CCR5, causing viral membrane fusion with cellular membrane.
