A new study shows increased HIV transmission to female partners if couples resumed intercourse prior to certified wound healing after circumcision
Scientists in John Hopkins University studying HIV infected men in Uganda have discovered something disturbing about circumcision procedure.
There is a greater risk of infection for women in the short term. Trials showed that there is an increased transmission to female partners if couples resumed intercourse prior to certified wound healing.
Dr. Tobian says it takes four to six weeks to fully heal from male circumcision and men should be counseled not to have sexual intercourse during healing and also be given condoms along with counseling.
The likelihood of HIV transmission from a newly circumcised man to his female partner is less than 1/10th of 1%. That sounds rather small, however the study warns that since World Health Organisation says 29 million men will be circumcised in the coming year, that small increase could add up to 17,000 new infections among female partners.
John Hopkin's associate professor said that anti-retroviral drugs can be a major mitigating factor.
The study recommends men be placed on anti-retroviral therapy at the time of circumcision. However, it is yet to be known how long the therapy should last or which drugs are more effective in such cases.
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