Circumcision is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in the world, but there are still many myths surrounding it. So let’s separate fact from fiction!

Myth: Circumcision leads to a loss of sexual function and pleasure.

Fact: Although there can be some minor loss in sensitivity at the tip of the penis – circumcision does not lead to a loss of sexual function or pleasure. No special nerve endings are removed during circumcision.

Myth: Circumcision has an effect on penis size.

Fact: Circumcision has no effect on penis size. The amount of skin removed differs from man to man, but on average less than a quarter of the skin is removed.

Myth: Circumcision affects a man’s ability to make his partner pregnant.

Fact: Circumcision has no effect on a man’s ability to make his partner pregnant. There are other factors such as fertility that play a role here.

Myth: If you are circumcised you cannot get HIV.

Fact: Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) reduces, but does not eliminate the risk of a man contracting HIV. Correct and consistent condom use is still key to preventing new HIV infections.

Myth: If I was not meant to have a foreskin surely I would be born without it.

Fact: There are a few things in the human body that do not serve a purpose and can be detrimental to health, such as your tonsils or your appendix.

VMMC has been proven to reduce a man’s risk of HIV by 60%. VMMC also benefits men in other ways: it helps to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and it lowers the risk of penile cancer. Female partners of circumcised males also benefit as it reduces a man’s chance of getting the human papilloma virus (HPV) and passing it onto his female partner – HPV causes most cervical cancer cases in women. So what are you waiting for?

To book for a free circumcision or to find out more about the procedure, men can send their full name to 35255 and a trained VMMC counsellor will call them back.