Studies on Circumcision

The studies that I am aware of that make the AIDS claim about circumcision are 1 Auvert B, Taljaard D, Lagarde E, et. al. Randomized controlled intervention trial of male circumcision for reduction of HIV infection risk: the ANRS 1265 trial. PLoS Med. 2005;12: 298. 2 Gray RH and colleagues. Male circumcision for HIV prevention in men in Rakai, Uganda: a randomised trial. Lancet,2007:369;657-666. 3 Bailey RC and colleagues. Male circumcision for HIV prevention in men in Rakai, Uganda: a randomised trial. Lancet,2007:369;643-656. These studies have been roundly criticised and rigorous peer review has been made impossible, since those involved refuse to share their data, thus making any of the studies impossible to validate. Interestingly, prior to these studies, the researchers were known to be biassed since they had previously published work advocating male circumcision for the prevention of HIV in Africa. "Overall evidence of the relationship between circumcision and HIV in Africa is contradictory and does not show any overall reduction in HIV due to circumcision" - Garenne M. Long-term population effect of male circumcision in generalised HIV epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa. African Journal of AIDS Research 2008 By contrast :- "The US is the only country in the developed world to circumcise most of its boys for non-religious reasons but this has not prevented it from becoming the developed nation most burdened with HIV" - GW Dowsett, M Couch. Reproductive Health Matters 2007 "A British study of gay men found a higher rate of HIV among those who were circumcised than those who were normal" - Reid D, Weatherburn P, Hickson F, Stephens M. Know the score. Findings from the National Gay Men's Sex Survey 2001 So overall, I see no good evidence to support the claim that circumcision has any medical efficacy whatsoever, in relation to the prevention of HIV. On the contrary, peer reviewed papers would seem to actually disprove this claim.