Ed Schoen, MD on Circumcision: Timely Information for Parents and Professionals from America's #1 Expert on Circumcision

"In a potential major breakthrough in the campaign against AIDS French and South African researchers have apparently found that male circumcision reduces by about 70 percent the risk that men will contract HIV through intercourse with infected women." -The Wall Street Journal July 5, 2005

Dr. Ed Schoen, author of a new book on cirumcision has hailed the findings of an African AIDS research team headed by Dr. Bertran Auvert of the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research. "Since 1987," said Dr. Schoen, former chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Circumcision, "more than 30 previous publications suggested a link between the foreskin and the acquisition of HIV infection. "The distinguished French and South African AIDS research team terminated the study early since they did not feel ethically justified in withholding circumcision from the control subjects. These exciting results help to call attention to other evidence demonstrating the multiple advantages of circumcision in protecting against serious diseases including cervical cancer in women, penile cancer, and severe kidney infections in infants, which can lead to renal damage. "On a local basis circumcision prevents foreskin infections and mechanical problems with retraction (phimosis), and skin disorders, in addition to promoting genital hygiene. In the United States, where the great majority of men are circumcised, circumcision also has social advantages." The American expert's new book "Ed Schoen, M.D.on Circumcision", analyzes the scientific evidence surrounding circumcision, as well as the misinformation and myths, and concludes that the procedure has significant lifetime health benefits. Dr. Schoen is a leading figure on the performance, analysis and publication of circumcision research. The long-term Chief of Pediatrics at Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, California, Dr. Schoen is Clinical Professor, Emeritus, of Pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco. The book answers common questions from parents and professionals such as "Why the newborn period is the "window of opportunity" for circumcision", "What is the effect of the foreskin on sexual activity?", and "What has been the role of organized medicine?".