Higher Frequency of Unprotected Insertive Anal Sex Among Young Black MSM Who are Circumcised

Excerpt

I read with great interest the recent paper by Crosby et al., in which the authors failed to find any significant difference in the prevalence of HIV (or other sexually transmitted infections) between circumcised and intact young black men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States [1]. Their findings are in line with those of a 2011 Cochrane review showing no significant association overall between circumcision/foreskin status and HIV infection in MSM, although a subanalysis suggested a possible reduction in HIV risk among circumcised MSM who predominantly take the insertive role during anal sex [2]. However, a subsequent British study found no evidence that circumcision is protective against HIV among MSM who predominantly engage in anal sex as the insertive partner [3]. …