Cutting-edge circumcision in SA

22 June 2016 - 09:57 By KATHARINE CHILD

A pair of Mitchells Plain doctors have invented a quicker, less painful way to circumcise men.The new method, which has been tested in three trials, does not require stitches on the penis or an injection.The lack of stitches can mean a better cosmetic result, say the researchers and the men who took part in a trial at a mining hospital in Marikana.The instrument, invented by Cyril and Elisabeth Parker, is called the Unicirc and fits onto the penis, protecting it and showing surgeons exactly where to cut in a straight line.The device "is potentially cheaper and safer than other methods" and "will greatly facilitate scale-up of mass circumcision programmes", according to a report in the scientific journal PLOS ONE last week.The Department of Health aims to have four million more men circumcised by the end of the year.Circumcision has been shown to reduce the risk of contracting HIV by 60% and also reduces the risk of contracting and transmitting syphilis.A study of Unicirc was carried out at the mining hospital with one-third of the men being circumcised conventionally and two-thirds undergoing circumcision using the new device.Men are given an anaesthetic cream instead of an injection. And, instead of stitches to close the cut, a tissue glue is used.Professor Peter Millard of the University of New England Public Health said circumcision using the Unicirc " can definitely be done by a nurse".Millard said the device could even be used in traditional circumcisions as it allowed a drop of blood to fall, which was required in such circumcisions.The Parkers intend applying for approval for the method from the World Health Organisation...

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