Does sex in the early period after circumcision increase HIVseroconversion risk? Pooled analysis of adult male circumcision clinical trials

Objective—To evaluate whether sexual intercourse soon after adult male circumcision affected HIV risk. Design—Combined analysis of data from African trials of men who were randomized to and underwent circumcision. Methods—We examined two associations: (1) early sex (intercourse <42 days after circumcision) and HIV acquisition at 3 months for the Orange Farm and Kisumu trials, and at 6 months for the Rakai and Kisumu trials; and (2) incomplete wound healing at 1 month and seroconversion at 3 and 6 months for the Kisumu trial and at 6 months for the Rakai trial. Results—Early sex was reported by 3.9 % of participants in Kisumu, 5.4 % in Rakai, and 22.5 % in Orange Farm. HIV-seroprevalence was 0.0 % at 3 months and 1.9 % at 6 months among 18–24 year-olds reporting early sex; and 0.2 % at 3 months and 0.6 % at 6 months among those who did not report early sex. In pooled analyses, men reporting early sex did not have higher HIV infection risk at 3 or 6 months. In Kisumu, 16 (1.3%) men had incomplete wound healing at the 30-day visit. One (6.3%