Parents face so many difficult decisions when it comes to having a child: decisions about nursing, sleep patterns, discipline, teaching methods and, in the case of boys, whether or not to circumcise. In addition to being the most common surgery for males in the U.S., circumcision has been practiced in various cultures for centuries. Yet when it comes to the health and best interest of your newborn, is circumcision the way to go?
Clinical Professor of Pediatrics
In the “counter” arguments to my points on HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, as well as my other points NOCIRC is displaying the “Groucho Marx Syndrome”. When one of his outrageous observations was challenged Grouch replied: Who are you going to believe – me or you own 2 eyes?” NOCIRCs version is – Who are you going to believe - NOCIRC or the published scientific evidence. Here is some of the scientific evidence I referred to regarding HIV and STIs:
1. Auvert B, Talijaard D, Lagarde E, Sobngwi-Tambekou J, Sitta R, Puren A. Randomized, controlled intervention trial of male circumcisionfor reduction of HIV infection risk: theANRS 1265 Trial. PLoS Med 2005;2:e298 [published correction appears in PLoSMed.2006;3:e298].
2. [6] Bailey RC, Moses S, Parker CB, Agot K, Maclean I, Krieger JN, et al. Male circumcision for HIV prevention in young men in Kisumu, Kenya: a randomized controlled trial. Lancet 2007;369:643–56.
3. [7] Gray RH, Kigozi G, Serwadda D, Makumbi F, Watya S, Nalugoda F, et al. Male circumcision for HIV prevention in men in Rakai, Uganda: a randomized trial. Lancet 2007;369:657–66.
4. Newell ML,Barnighausen T. Male circumcision to cut HIV risk in the general population. Lancet 2007, 369:617-619.
5. Castellsagué X, Peeling RW, Franceschi S, et al; IARC Multicenter Cervical Cancer Study Group. Chlamydia trachomatis infection in female partners of circumcised and uncircumcised adult men. Am J Epidemiol 2005;162:907-916.
6. Moses S, Bailey RC, Ronald AR. Male circumcision: assessment of health risks and benefits. Sex Transm Infect 74:368-373, 1998.
7. Szabo R, Short RV. How does male circumcision protect against HIV infection? BMJ 320:1592-1594, 2000.
8. Patterson BK, Landay A, Siegel JN, Flener Z, Pessis D, Chaviano A, Bailey RC. Susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection of human foreskin and cervical tissue grown in explant culture. Am J Pathol 161:867-873, 2002.
9. Castellsagué X, Bosch FX, Muños N, Meijer CJ, Shah KV, de SanJosé S, Eluf-Neto J, Ngelangel CA, Chichareon S, Smith JS, et al. Male circumcision, penile human papillomavirus infection, and cervical cancer in female partners. N Engl J Med 346:1105-1112, 2002.
This is just some of the science. Look it up. Then compare it to the opinions, theories, arguments, anecdotes and myths of NOCIRC.
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