Medical male circumcision (MMC) is the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis, by a trained healthcare professional or doctor. It is a voluntary process and the procedure is available free of charge by certain doctors and nurses in the programme.
Benefits to men:
Benefits to women, whose partners circumcise
In both men and women
Uncircumcised men who are exposed to HIV are more likely to become infected, because the foreskin makes them more vulnerable to contracting HIV. Removing the foreskin through MMC reduces the likelihood of HIV infection. The foreskin is more susceptible to HIV compared to other tissue. It has a greater susceptibility to tears and abrasions during sex, creating tiny microscopic holes for the entry of infections, including HIV. The inner surface of the foreskin is also moist, soft and has a high concentration of target cells for HIV infection. The moisture also helps HIV to survive.
MMC is a low-risk procedure and adverse events are rare. Potential risks are minimised by:
Clients do not experience pain in the same way. A local anaesthetic (injection) is given at the beginning of the surgical procedure. This prevents you from feeling pain during the procedure and it makes you numb. After the circumcision, men report minor discomfort in the first few days but this is easily managed with over-the-counter pain relief.
Medical Male Circumcision is performed by trained and qualified health professionals.
You will get a small injection to numb the feeling while we do the procedure.
You will not feel any pain during the procedure.
We remove the part of the foreskin that covers the head of your penis.
This process takes 10 minutes. Afterwards, we place a bandage on your penis that has to remain on for 2 days.
Many men report sexual satisfaction and normal sexual function after circumcision. Women have reported normal or increased sexual satisfaction with a circumcised partner.
It is extremely important to use a condom every time.
Because of the benefits of MMC, some men and women make the mistake of thinking that circumcision is 100% protective against HIV and STIs, so they engage in risky behaviour, which increases their risk of contracting HIV. Always use a condom.