Male Circumcision for HIV Prevention

Conclusive studies have identified voluntary male circumcision as a powerful new tool for HIV prevention. Family Health International works with national health services, community-based organizations, and international agencies to put those research results into practice and save lives.
 
Since the 1980s, scientists had observed associations between circumcision status and HIV prevalence, but they could not definitely establish that being circumcised offers men protection against HIV infection. Then, in 2005-06, three randomized clinical trials confirmed that becoming circumcised dramatically reduces a man's chances of HIV infection during vaginal sex. The results of these studies in Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda showed that medical circumcision lowers the risk of HIV transmission from a woman to a man by about 60 percent.

 

Male circumcision is not completely protective against HIV, and whether it protects the female partners of circumcised men is unknown. Therefore, FHI works with its partners to integrate male circumcision into comprehensive HIV prevention services. Through the Male Circumcision Consortium in Kenya, we also conduct research to identify the safest, most effective ways to provide such services in different settings.