Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!usc!ucla-cs!chet@retix.retix.COM
From: chet@retix.retix.COM (Chet Mazur)
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
Subject: Re: F->M HIV transfer
Message-ID: <29423@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU>
Date: 22 Nov 89 00:28:39 GMT
References: <29307@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU>
Sender: news@CS.UCLA.EDU
Reply-To: chet%retix@uunet.UU.NET (Chet Mazur)
Organization: Retix, Santa Monica CA
Lines: 11
Approved: aids@cs.ucla.edu
Archive-number: 1508

The risk from M->F x'fer seems to be the same as for F->M. This is
based on research in Africa, where the majority of PWA's are
heterosexual and you don't see a disproportionate amount of females
infected (implying M->F is riskier) or vis-versa.

As for being uncircumcised, this does put you at greater risk (again
based on African research).... The reason is not known (yet) but it is
suspected that the unretracted foreskin provides a great place for the
virus to live (warm, dark, moist). Also the "un-cut" penis is much
more sensitive and therefore subject to abrasion; with this allowing
transmission.