clipped from: www.theage.com.au   

CIRCUMCISION — shunned by Australian doctors for a generation as unnecessary — is making a comeback as new research shows the procedure can cut the risk of HIV infection.

And now the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, which advises against circumcision, is reviewing its stance.

The World Health Organisation recently changed its own recommendations based on "compelling" evidence to say circumcision should be recognised as an additional important intervention to reduce the risk of HIV infection in men.

The recommendation came after three randomised controlled trials undertaken in Kenya, Uganda and South Africa found that male circumcision reduced the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men by approximately 60 per cent.

However it was stressed that circumcision did not provide complete protection and other forms, such as condoms, should still be used.