While there are many benefits to circumcision, there are also risks. It doesn’t matter if you decide to have it done or not. However, it is important that you are aware of the risks and how they could impact your life.
Human papillomavirus
HPV infection can cause penile and cervical cancer. Genital warts can also be caused by HPV. Men who are circumcised tend to have a lower risk of penile HPV infections. However, there is some debate about the protective effects of male circumcision on HPV.circumcision procedures adelaide
There are many studies that have been done on the subject. Some studies only focus on sexually transmitted HIV, while others examine HPV prevalence in other locations. These studies are usually inconclusive.
A study of male factors that are associated with the etiology and progression of cervical cancer revealed that circumcision does not prevent HPV. It did however reduce the incidence of HR-HPV in HIV-positive men. In a study of penile HPV, a few cross-sectional and case-control studies have reported a lower incidence of HPV in circumcised men.
Two large population-based studies in the USA and Mexico have shown that HPV is more common among uncircumcised males. However, the differences between HPV types are not statistically significant.
High-risk HPV infection is more common in uncircumcised men. This could be because asymptomatic males are more likely get the virus. It is possible that the persistence or the scrotum of the virus could also play a part.
A lower risk of female sexual partners contracting HPV infection through circumcision is also a result of circumcision. This was proven in a study involving 450 male survivors. It is not known if the HPV reduction is due to acquired immunity or increased herd immunity.
Penile HPV infections are rare, but they can be a problem. Balanitis can be a serious condition in men who are not circumcised. Penile cancer prevention is a concern, but vaccination of males against HPV seems inefficient.
As with many other studies, results from HPV studies vary a great deal. This is due both to the heterogeneity in studies and the diverse samples used to measure HPV.
More research is needed to show that circumcision reduces the chance of developing HPV in the penile. We need to look at the long-term HPV prevalence, including in infants, and the effectiveness of vaccination.
STDs
Circumcision may lower the rate of sexually transmitted disease (STDs). Numerous studies have shown that women who have circumcised male partners are less likely to develop genital herpes or cervical cancer. In addition, circumcision may decrease the chances of an infected man transmitting HIV to his female partner. It does not appear that it protects against any other STIs.
We conducted a systematic review to determine the benefits and dangers of circumcision. This study examined the prevalences of any STIs both in intact and uncircumcised individuals, as well the prevalences of any other STIs for male partners. We looked at several studies and chose those that showed a higher effect than the average.
The systematic review identified 5472 articles in MEDLINE and PubMed. The inclusion criteria included case-control and cohort studies. Studies had to be published in a peer-reviewed journal. The most fascinating studies were those that compared HPV risk with and without circumcision. A meta-analysis examined the most statistically important results.
The most common STIs found in the general populace are genital and genital herpes. The most notable effect of circumcision is a decrease in syphilis. This was 75% lower for women with circumcised partners.
Other important factors that influenced the interpretation of the findings included whether the sex was resumpted after a six weeks healing period and whether it was between a male and female. Some observational studies on the effects of circumcision on STDs showed a stronger protective effect for females than their RCT counterparts.
The primary analysis used relative risk and reported odds ratios. The odds of getting positive results for genital herpes were lower than 10% in large prospective cohort studies.
One study from India found that HSV-2 was not reduced in female partners of circumcised males. The risk of contracting HIV in women who have male partners who were circumcised was 38% lower in this subset than it was in women who had uncircumcised male partners. Although the odds for a positive test result were not high, there was a relationship between abnormal cytology findings and positive results.
Penile cancer
Consider both the risks and the benefits of circumcision for penile carcinoma. Risks are often linked to certain factors that increase your chance of developing the disease. It is important that you are aware of these factors in order to make informed decisions.
One of the biggest and most serious risks is infection by the human papillomavirus. This can easily be passed from skin to skin contact. Certain cancers have been associated with a variety HPV types. There are different strains of HPV, and each type may cause different types of warts. Some of these types have been linked with the development genital cancers.
Getting a vaccine for HPV is one way to prevent certain cancers, including penile cancer. It has been shown that circumcision can reduce the chance of developing the disease. However, there are other factors that affect your chance of getting cancer.
Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is another risk factor for penile cancer. HIV-positive people have a significantly higher chance of developing the disease. In addition, their immune systems have been shown to be impaired. HIV increases your risk of developing AIDS. This condition causes a weak immune system.
Although it is rare in the United States of America, penile cancer can occur in some men. Penile cancer is most common in those over fifty. Smoking and a weak immune system are other risk factors. You can reduce your risk of developing the disease by having your penile removed.
Phimosis is another danger factor. Phimosis results from a buildup under the foreskin of oily secretions, bacteria, and other factors. Phimosis makes penis cleaning more difficult and can cause inflammation.
Penile cancer can be more common in those who smoke. A condom may help you limit the oral sex you have in public with uncircumcised males. Condoms are not able to stop the transmission HPV in sex.
Some men don’t need circumcision. Men who have never had circumcision are more likely than those who have.
Infections
Circumcision is an important medical procedure, but a small number of infections can occur. These are minor infections that can be treated with antibiotics. Rarely, however, they can cause serious complications.
These infections can happen at the circumcision site as well as in other areas. The wound may require debridement depending on where it is located. In other cases, an infection may be more systemic, meaning it affects the entire body. It is important to use condoms and take other preventive steps to avoid infection.
If the infection isn’t treated, it can lead either to adult tetanus, necrotizing faciitis, or even scrotal abrascess. This is especially true for wounds that are not properly cleaned and for areas with low blood supply.
Infants who have undergone circumcision are very unlikely to contract an infection. Studies show that infection in infants who have open wounds from circumcision can lead to ascending urinary tract infections and respiratory distress.
Male circumcision has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection. Research shows that young women who sex with circumcised men are less likely get HIV infection than young women who don’t. But, there’s no evidence that male circumcision can provide complete protection from STDs.
One example of an infection that can arise after circumcision is infection of the skin. This can result in a foul-smelling discharge. Other infections can also occur, such as meningitis. Numerous studies have shown a link between genital HSV-1 infection, traditional circumcision, as well as one study that found that neonates who had their circumcisions performed with direct oral suction were more susceptible to developing HSV-1 infections.
There are many other health benefits associated with circumcision. It can help prevent infections, improve hygiene and enhance the experience of sexual intercourse. It can safely be performed by skilled and competent professionals. Post-surgical infection control can help lower the chance of developing infections.
A recent study has shown that HIV incidence is significantly lower when VMMC is used (which encourages voluntary circumcision). Among women aged 15 to 49, the rate was 17 percent lower. The authors concluded that the decrease in risk was likely due to a decrease in the prevalence of HIV among circumcised men.