Non-surgical circumcisions with low risk of infection approved by WHO used to reduces HIV in Africa

The World Health Organization (WHO) approved expanded use of an Israeli developed device that allows medical workers to perform “painless circumcisions.” The PrePex device, created by Israel-based Circ MedTech, will be granted WHO prequalification on May 31 for use with males age 13 and above in 14 African countries.

Circumcision is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of AIDS – which affects nearly 30 million in Africa. Research and experience shows that male circumcision, when safely provided by well-trained health professionals, reduces the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men by approximately 60%. Circumcision can therefore play an important role in preventing the spread of HIV. Persuading adult to undergo circumcision is difficult mostly because it is painful. Furthermore surgical circumcision is done in a hospital or specialized clinic which are not available in the countryside.

PrePex which is produced by Circ Medtech is the first and so far only nonsurgical male circumcision device. Using the device does not require injected anesthesia, surgery, sutures, or sterile settings. The device, consisting of plastic and rubber rings that are placed on the penis and uses pressure to separate the foreskin from the head of the penis. The elastic pressure ring is applied to the foreskin, cutting off distal blood flow. The placement of PrePex band completely separate the foreskin from the glands penis. It causes death of all human cells within the foreskin preventing the spread of bacterial toxin or bacterial infection from the necrotic foreskin. After a week, the foreskin falls off, and the wound is treated with a salve.

PrePex Non Surgical Male Circumcision Procedure video

PrePex was found in studies conducted in association with the WHO to be safe and effective when performed by physicians and nurses, offering a virtually bloodless procedure that requires no injection of anesthesia, no knives, no sutures, and can be performed in a non-sterile environment. To date, more than 125,000 PrePex procedures have been conducted in 12 countries: Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Indonesia. More than 11 national Training Centers are located across Africa, training local healthcare professionals.

         PrePex Non Surgical Male Circumcision