Changes

Alcena and Fink lacked a hypothesis to explain why the foreskin would be an entry point for HIV infection, but this was supplied by circumcision promoter [[Gerald N. Weiss]] and two colleagues. Weiss et al. (1993) produced the plausible but incorrect hypothesis that [[Langerhans cells]] attracted HIV. A medical journal in [[Israel ]] was willing to publish the paper by Weiss et al.<ref name="weiss1993">{{REFjournal

This hypothesis attempts to identify the change in [[microbiome| bacterial environment ]] that results in the [[penis ]] as a result of [[adult circumcision]], as the mechanism whereby circumcision reduces the spread of [[HIV]] transmission. A desperate ad-hoc hypothesis, the explanation is rather farfetched. The argument is that the change in bacterial environment after circumcision makes it difficult for bacteria that cause diseases to live; there are less chances for penile inflammation, a condition that facilitates the transmission of viruses. The chances for penile inflammation are reduced, thereby reducing the chances of sexually transmitted viruses, such as [[HIV]].<ref>{{REFjournal

Presenting this hypothesis presents a two-fold problem. First, it presents an irrelevant conclusion; the discredited randomized control trials were measuring frequency in [[HIV]] transmission, not for frequency in penile bacterial inflammation, and whether said inflammation facilitated sexually transmitted [[HIV]]. And secondly, circumcision advocates give themselves the new burden of proving the newly introduced hypothesis, that change in bacterial infection does indeed result in a significant reduction of [[HIV]] transmission. A new study is needed to measure [[HIV]] transmission in men who have been [[circumcised]], [[intact]] men with constant penile inflammations, and [[intact]] men who don't suffer constant penile inflammation. Unless the randomized controlled studies were limited to only [[intact]] men who suffered constant penile inflammation.

The [[foreskin]]'s inner fold and the [[glans ]] of the penis are comprised of [[Preputial mucosa|mucous membrane]] tissue. These are also present in your eyes, mouth, and all other bodily orifices including the female genitals. These are the first line of immunological defense for the body's orifices. These mucous membranes perform many immunological and hygienic functions.

All of these function to sequester and “digest” foreign pathogens. All these substances play an important role in protecting the [[penis ]] from viral and bacterial pathogens. The immunological functions of the human [[prepuce ]] have been extensively documented by respected researchers for quite some time.<ref name="fleiss-hodges-vanhowe1998">{{FleissP HodgesF VanHoweRS 1998}}</ref>

[[Tuli]] or male circumcision, a nearly compulsory cultural practice in the Philippine Islands, causes 93 percent of Filipino males to be [[circumcised]].

The statistics suggest that removal of the protective [[foreskin]] by [[circumcision ]] increases the risk of contracting [[HIV]] infection.

=== [[Israel ]] ===Despite circumcision being near-universal, [[HIV]] is an increasing problem in [[Israel]].<ref>{{REFweb