Abstract presented at 3rd IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment in Rio de Janeiro, July 24-27, 2005. The Abstract noted that female circumcision has shown a decrease in the rate of HIV infection.

The authors state, "It has been postulated that female circumcision might increase the risk of HIV infection either directly, through the use of unsterile equipment, or indirectly, through an increase in genital lacerations or the substitution of anal intercourse. The authors sought to explain an unanticipated significant crude association of lower HIV risk among circumcised women." The authors concluded, "A lowered risk of HIV infection among circumcised women was not attributable to confounding with another risk factor in these data."