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Lack of circumcision could add to health care costs
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The rising number of US males who are uncircumcised could lead to an increase in avoidable health care expenses associated with increased rates of sexually transmitted infections and cancers, according to study findings published online.
Aaron Tobian, MD, PhD, and colleagues used an economic model to predict the potential costs of not circumcising boys at birth. The researchers factored in medical costs such as treatment for STIs, as well as costs of the circumcision procedure and any related complications.
The researchers estimated that each procedure not conducted would lead to $313 in increased costs, or about $4.4 billion over 10 years of births, if the recent trend in decreased circumcision continues.
According to Tobian and colleagues, if trends in the United States led to rates of circumcision on par with those in Europe — which hover around 10% to 29% — more men would contract HPV, 12% more would be at risk for HIV and 20% more would be at risk for herpes.
The researchers said decreases in Medicaid coverage may be to blame for dropping numbers of male circumcisions.
“Our economic evidence is backing up what our medical evidence has already shown to be perfectly clear,” Tobian said in a press release. “There are health benefits to infant male circumcision in guarding against illness and disease, and declining male circumcision rates come at a severe price, not just in human suffering, but in billions of health care dollars as well.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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