Circumcision does not reduce enjoyment of sex: Study

Washington, Jan 08 : Circumcision has been recommended as an efficient way to reduce HIV transmissions. However, fears that they will not be able to enjoy sex or that that their performance in bed is likely to be affected often stops men from undergoing the procedure. Now, a new study by researchers from Uganda and the USA puts these fears to rest.

Taking part in the study were 4, 456 sexually experienced Ugandan men aged from 15 to 49 who did not have the HIV virus. 2,210 of these men received circumcision while 2,246 had their circumcision delayed for 24 months. The majority of the men were Catholic, married, had one sexual partner and were educated to primary school level.

The researchers then checked for the levels of sexual desire, satisfaction and sexual performance for both groups of men over a period of six, 12 and 24 months.

A comparison of the results showed that circumcision doesn't reduce sexual satisfaction and performance.

The results of the study showed that 98.6 per cent of the circumcised men reported no problems in penetration, compared with 99.4 per cent of the control group.

Also, 99.4 per cent of the circumcised men reported no pain on intercourse, compared with 98.8 per cent of the control group.

While at the six-month visit there was a small, but statistically significant, difference in problems with penetration and pain among the circumcised group, but this was temporary and was not reported at subsequent follow-up visits.

Sexual satisfaction was more or less constant in the circumcision group - 98.5 per cent on enrolment and 98.4 per cent after two years - but rose slightly from 98 per cent to 99.9 per cent in the control group. This difference was not felt to be clinically significant.

The results have prompted the researchers to conclude that circumcision does not have an adverse effect on men.

"Our study clearly shows that being circumcised did not have an adverse effect on the men who underwent the procedure when we compared them with the men who had not yet received surgery" said co-author Professor Ronald H Gray from the Bloomberg School of Health at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA.

"Other studies have already shown that being able to reassure men that the procedure won't affect sexual satisfaction or performance makes them much more likely to be circumcised."

"Our study clearly shows that being circumcised did not have an adverse effect on the men who underwent the procedure when we compared them with the men who had not yet received surgery" concludes Professor Gray.

"Other studies have already shown that being able to reassure men that the procedure won't affect sexual satisfaction or performance makes them much more likely to be circumcised."

Added Professor John Fitzpatrick from University College Dublin, Ireland: "We believe that these findings are very important as they can be used to support public health messages that promote circumcision as an effective way of reducing HIV transmission."

The study and its results are published in the January issue of the UK-based urology journal BJU International.

ANI