The Centers for Disease Control are currently considering making routine circumcision mandatory for baby boys born in the United States. Circumcision is considered a method of reducing the spread of the HIV virus.
The recommendations are extremely controversial, however, recent research shows that circumcised men in African countries that are severely affected by AIDS, had half the rate of infection when compared to uncircumcised men. Critics of mandatory circumcision argue that mandatory circumcision places infants in a position where they are forced to undergo a medically unnecessary surgery without being able to give their consent. Nevertheless, CDC experts continue to argue for all infants to receive the procedure. Specifically, they maintain that any method to prevent the spread of HIV is a step in the right direction.
It is difficult to say how much mandatory circumcision would affect the rate of HIV infections, as many men in the U.S. are already circumcised. In fact, 79% of adult males are circumcised in this country. Additionally, little evidence exists to suggest that mandatory circumcision would dramatically reduce the number of homosexual men affected by HIV.
