Circumcision as an Intervening Strategy against HIV Acquisition in the Male Genital Tract
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Pathogens
Abstract
Unsafe sex with HIV-infected individuals remains a major route for HIV transmission,
and protective strategies, such as the distribution of free condoms and pre-or post-prophylaxis
medication, have failed to control the spread of HIV, particularly in resource-limited settings and
high HIV prevalence areas. An additional key strategy for HIV prevention is voluntary male circumcision
(MC). International health organizations (e.g., the World Health Organization, UNAIDS)
have recommended this strategy on a larger scale, however, there is a general lack of public understanding
about how MC effectively protects against HIV infection. This review aims to discuss the
acquisition of HIV through the male genital tract and explain how and why circumcised men are
more protected from HIV infection during sexual activity than uncircumcised men who are at higher
risk of HIV acquisition.
Description
Keywords
HIV, viral transmission, circumcision, heterosexual HIV-1 transmission
Citation
Sharma, A.L.; Hokello, J.; Tyagi, M. Circumcision as an Intervening Strategy against HIV Acquisition in the Male Genital Tract. Pathogens 2021, 10, 806. https:// doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10070806