Male circumcision's benefits outweigh risks, CDC says

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Wednesday 03 Dec 2014 - 12:53 Makkah mean time-11-2-1436 Washington (IINA) – The benefits of male circumcision outweigh the risks, according to a long awaited draft of federal guidelines from U.S. health officials released on Tuesday, which indicate that scientific evidence supports recommending the procedure. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that medically performed male circumcision could help decrease the risk of contracting HIV and several other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well as other health problems. The recommendation, which includes counseling parents of male newborns on the benefits and risks of the procedure, comes at a time when the rate of male circumcision has been decreasing in the United States. From 1979 through 2010, the national rate of newborn circumcision declined 10 percent to 58 percent, according to the CDC. "These recommendations are based on an evaluation of available information on the health risks and benefits associated with high-quality, medically performed male circumcision and were developed to pertain to men and male newborns in the United States," the document said. Several studies conducted in Africa indicated that circumcision could help reduce the spread of the virus that causes AIDS. The overall risk of adverse events associated with male circumcision is low, with minor bleeding and inflammation cited as the most common complications, according to a CDC fact sheet. The agency said it developed the draft guidance based on a systematic review of all evidence on the health risks and benefits of circumcision and consultation with experts in HIV prevention and related fields. AB/IINA