How Circumcision may Reduce HIV

Circumcision reduces the risk of a man both transmitting or acquiring H.I.V., and other sexually transmitted diseases. However, until now, we have not known why this is. Researchers in Uganda studied 79 men randomly assigned to circumcision and 77 men who remained uncircumcised. After a year, the amount of bacteria decreased in both groups (may be due to behavioral changes caused by the study). However, the decreases were much larger in those of the circumcised sample. They also found that the diversity of bacteria among those who were circumcised decreased. I found this article interesting because they are trying to find ways to decrease one’s risk of contracting H.I.V. From this study, they believe that bacteria may play a role in attracting T-cells or cause inflammation that makes the transmission of H.I.V. more likely.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/how-circumcision-may-stem-h-i-v/?ref=health