Uncircumcised Men Have Greater HIV Risk

A recent study conducted by some Chicago researchers has revealed that the layer of internal mucosa inside the penis is more susceptible to HIV infection than its external skin or cervical tissue. If this is true, then it would mean that men with uncircumcised penis run a greater risk of contacting HIV infection than the one who have had undergone circumcision already. In fact, this upward trend in the number of HIV infections amongst uncircumcised men had been noticed earlier itself - in the various studies conducted - but the exact reason for this was unknown to the experts till date.
A study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Pathology by researchers at Children's Memorial Hospital, the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, and the Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, throws light over the possible biological mechanisms that could explain the science behind the protective shield that circumcision offers.
The researchers studied foreskin tissue samples taken from six adults and eight children who had undergone circumcision for some reason or the other. These tissues, when compared with cervical tissue that served as controls, it was found out that the internal mucosa layer have a higher concentration of the cells that are more prone to HIV infection than the latter. In other words, the foreskin mucosa had a higher percentage of macrophages, CD4 T cells, and Langerhans' Cells (LC), which are HIV target cells, than cervical tissue. Further, it has been observed that the concentration of HIV target cells in foreskin mucosa is higher for people who already have had any sexually transmitted infection earlier. This finding in fact is consistent with some the earlier studies done by researchers, which have pointed out that HIV infection is more in people having STD infections or with a similar history than one without it.
According to the associated scientists, while this study proves beyond doubt the difference in levels of infection that affects foreskin mucosa and cervical tissue, they have not yet verified the results in the case of a circumcised penis owing to the difficulty in obtaining tissue samples of the same due to various reasons. For the time being, the result is like, if this is true, the other is also ought to be true.
In order to address this short coming, Mr. Robert Bailey, PhD, MPH, Division of Epidemiology, from the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago and his team is conducting an elaborate study in East Africa by collecting tissue samples from 1,400 people – both circumcised and uncircumcised – belonging to the same city, and conducting various experiments, the results of which will be published in another four years time. Hopefully, that will provide a solid conclusion on the debate, whether circumcision reduced HIV risk or not

Older Women & HIV

HIV infections are on the rise. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of Americans over 50 who are infected with HIV have grown over 5 times (16,300 people in 1995, to 90,600 in 2003). While seniors represent about 14% of people with HIV, senior women represent 18%. The numbers of women with infections are even higher for American women of color, and come in at a staggering 47% when looking at world HIV infection rates. That means that just under half of all HIV infections are found in women worldwide.
One reason for the higher number of older women with HIV was found in a study recently published by Emory University. They surveyed 514 women over the age of 50, and found that their knowledge about transmission was poor. For example, approximately 50% of women believed that vasectomies and diaphragms prevent the spread of HIV.
Other reasons include the fact that many older women, who have sex with men, are also not using condoms, knowing they are past the point of having to worry about pregnancy. Women also erroneously think they can’t get HIV if they are not engaging in behaviors they deem as risky. The truth of the matter is this. HIV is a virus. It’s an opportunist. It does not care if you are male or female. It does not care who you have sex with, nor the numbers of people you have sex with. It certainly does not care about the color of your skin, you bank balance or you age.
HIV is primarily spread in two ways. First is though the sharing of contaminated intravenous drug equipment. Second, and more commonly, HIV is spread by unprotected sexual encounters. Women frequently are the receptive partners, and the receptive partners are more likely to become infected. Women who are post menopausal are at higher risk because of the changes in the vaginal tissue. With less estrogen to nourish the vagina, the tissue atrophies (becomes thin) and there is less lubrication. A woman can easily get tiny tears in her vaginal tissues, thus leaving an opening for virus to gain entry to her blood stream.
What’s a woman to do?
Know your own HIV status. Contact your health care provider, or (if you want anonymous testing) the local health department for testing. I do not recommend home testing at this time. First, if you are positive, are you really? And if you are negative, are you really? If positive, confirmatory blood testing is required. Many offices have started using rapid testing in the office where preliminary results can be obtained in 20 minutes. In the meantime you can get the appropriate information on how you need to proceed.
Know your partners history (this goes for both male AND female partners ladies!). Do they have a history of multiple partners and unprotected sexual encounters? Have they been tested? When? Did they get a follow up test at 6 months? What were the results?
Condoms and lubrication are essential. Use them not only on your partners body parts that may be entering you, but also on any toys you may be utilizing as well There are several online and confidential sources to purchase lubricants, condoms and gloves.
Limit your exposure when possible. Think twice if you are engaging in high risk behavior with a casual or new partner.
Educate yourself. The information presented here is just a small portion of what you need to know. Each of us bears the responsibility to educate ourselves and our partners.
For many women, sexual activity does not stop just because they reach a certain age. I encourage you to continue to enjoy yourselves, but do so safely.