MALE circumcision is gaining in popularity globally and in South Africa, and is now one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in the world.
More than 2.3 million men in South Africa have been circumcised as of April 2016, fast approaching the national target of 4.3 million by the end of the year.
Studies conducted in South Africa, Kenya and Uganda found that circumcision can protect a circumcised man’s female partner from certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and lowers the chances of HIV infection by 60 %.
https://vimeo.com/careworksmmc/medical-male-circumcision-hiv-prevention
‘From a medical and hygiene point of view, men who haven’t been circumcised are more prone to infectious diseases from HIV to thrush, syphilis, and human papilloma virus (HPV),’ said Prevention Programme Manager at HIV-management organisation, CareWorks.
‘Their female partners are also more at risk of contracting genital herpes and HPV, which is a leading cause of cervical cancer.’
More adult men are also making the cut for aesthetic reasons, and the procedure is becoming popular among men between the ages of 15 and 24.
‘There is a growing body of evidence worldwide which suggests that women prefer to have sex with a circumcised partner and find it unhygienic to be intimate with a man who hasn’t been circumcised,’ said Rawlinson. ‘Women claim that sex with a circumcised man lasts longer and offers more pleasure. This inevitably puts a lot of pressure on men to undergo the procedure.’
Circumcision remains a personal decision but the health advantages are clear and outweigh any cons. If you are considering Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) you will need to discuss with your options with a doctor.
‘There are three recommended methods for surgery, said Rawlinson, ‘All have excellent safety records when performed by a trained professional and all require local anesthesia, with full recovery in as little as six weeks.’
To find out more information or where you, your son, friend or partner, can undergo free VMMC, send a free ‘please call me’ to 0606 800 800 and a counsellor will get back to you.
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