MASSDEVICE ON CALL — If U.S. infant circumcision levels drop to those seen in Europe, the subsequent increase in sexually transmitted infections and related cancers could cost the healthcare system billions, according to researchers.
The decline over the past 20 years has already cost more than $20 billion according to disease experts and health economists at Johns Hopkins.
"Our economic evidence is backing up what our medical evidence has already shown to be perfectly clear," senior investigator Dr. Aaron Tobian said in prepared remarks. "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."
That values relate to increases in men infected with HIV, HPV, herpes simplex and infant urinary tract infections, according to a press release.
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