CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT00425984Updated Aug 24, 2007

Male Circumcision for HIV Prevention in Rakai, Uganda

A Phase 3 interventional study of Adult male circumcision in HIV Infections, Herpesvirus 2, Human and Syphilis, sponsored by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Completed at 1 site in Uganda. Open to male participants aged 15 Years to 49 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2007-08-24.

Sponsored by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) · Phase 3, Interventional, and Prevention

Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
5,000
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
15 Years to 49 Years
Sex
Male
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Study summary

Circumcision in HIV unifected men may reduce the likelihood of becoming infected with HIV, reduce sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in men, not engender increases in sexual risk behaviors, and be acceptable to men as a procedure for preventing HIV. The purpose of this study is to evaluate circumcision in HIV uninfected men in terms of safety and ability to prevent HIV infection.

Read the detailed description

South Africa has one of the most severe and fast-growing HIV epidemics in the world. Adult male circumcision may be an effective preventive measure to slow the spread of HIV and other STIs. This study will assess the efficacy of circumcision in HIV uninfected men in preventing HIV and STI acquisition.

This study will have two stages. In the first stage, 200 men will be enrolled into a study of the acceptability, feasibility, and safety of circumcision. Frequent postoperative follow-up will occur to determine rates of healing and complications. After assessment of those enrolled in Stage 1, Stage 2 enrollment will begin. Stage 2 will determine the efficacy of circumcision in preventing HIV acquisition. In both stages, HIV uninfected men will be randomly assigned to have either immediate circumcision or possible circumcision 2 years following Stage 2 study entry. The participants not receiving immediate circumcision will be offered circumcision after completion of 2 years of follow-up study, provided there is evidence of the efficacy of this procedure at that time. If efficacy is still unknown after 2 years of follow-up, participants will be given the option of circumcision at the completion of the trial.

Postoperative follow-up visits will be scheduled between 24 to 48 hours, 5 to 9 days, and 4 to 6 weeks. At each postoperative visit, participants will be questioned about symptoms suggestive of complications, and the area operated on will be inspected. Participants will be asked about resumption of sexual intercourse, and those who have resumed sexual intercourse will be asked about condom use. Study visits will be also conducted regarding risk behaviors and symptoms of STIs, and these will occur sometime between Weeks 4 to 6, and at Months 6, 12, and 24 post-enrollment. At each study visit, assessment of circumcision status and penile pathology; blood, urine, and penile swabs collection; and HIV testing will occur, and counseling and health education will be provided.

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Conditions studied

  • HIV Infections
  • Herpesvirus 2, Human
  • Syphilis
  • Genital Diseases, Male

Keywords

  • HIV
  • Male circumcision
  • Sexually transmitted infections
  • Sexual risk behaviors
  • Adult males
  • Haemophilus ducreyi
  • Human papillomavirus
  • Rakai
  • Uganda
  • HIV seronegativity
  • HPV
  • STI
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In context

Syphilis

120 studies on the registry are indexed under Syphilis; 33 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 5,000 is above the median of 377 across 82 interventional studies indexed under Syphilis.

Browse Syphilis studies →

Lead sponsor

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is the lead sponsor of 2,401 studies on the registry; 179 are open to participants now.

Of its 396 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 294 (74%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
15 Years to 49 Years
Sexes eligible
Male
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • HIV uninfected
  • Willing to receive HIV results
  • Willing to be circumcised
  • Parent or guardian willing to provide informed consent if applicable
  • Hemoglobin of 8 grams/dl or less
  • Intend to stay in Rakai, Uganda, for at least 1 year and are available for follow-up for 1 year

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Already circumcised or partially circumcised
  • Anatomical abnormality of the penis (e.g., hypospadias, severe phimosis) that may put the participant at risk if circumcised
  • Medical conditions that require therapeutic circumcision
  • Medical condition that contraindicates surgery or use of local anesthesia
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Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
5,000 participants

Interventions

  • ProcedureAdult male circumcision
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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. HIV acquisition

  2. safety of circumcision

Secondary outcomes

  1. Sexually transmitted infections

  2. sexual risk behaviors

  3. acceptability

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Study locations

1 site
  • Rakai Health Sciences Program, P.O. Box 279
    Kalisizo Town, Rakai, Uganda
08

References and documents

Publications

  • de Bruyn G, Smith MD, Gray GE, McIntyre JA, Wesson R, Dos Passos G, Martinson NA. Circumcision for prevention against HIV: marked seasonal variation in demand and potential public sector readiness in Soweto, South Africa. Implement Sci. 2007 Jan 25;2:2. doi: 10.1186/1748-5908-2-2. PubMed 17254337 ↗
  • Gray RH, Kiwanuka N, Quinn TC, Sewankambo NK, Serwadda D, Mangen FW, Lutalo T, Nalugoda F, Kelly R, Meehan M, Chen MZ, Li C, Wawer MJ. Male circumcision and HIV acquisition and transmission: cohort studies in Rakai, Uganda. Rakai Project Team. AIDS. 2000 Oct 20;14(15):2371-81. doi: 10.1097/00002030-200010200-00019. PubMed 11089626 ↗
  • Kelly R, Kiwanuka N, Wawer MJ, Serwadda D, Sewankambo NK, Wabwire-Mangen F, Li C, Konde-Lule JK, Lutalo T, Makumbi F, Gray RH. Age of male circumcision and risk of prevalent HIV infection in rural Uganda. AIDS. 1999 Feb 25;13(3):399-405. doi: 10.1097/00002030-199902250-00013. PubMed 10199231 ↗
  • Wawer MJ, Reynolds SJ, Serwadda D, Kigozi G, Kiwanuka N, Gray RH. Might male circumcision be more protective against HIV in the highly exposed? An immunological hypothesis. AIDS. 2005 Dec 2;19(18):2181-2. doi: 10.1097/01.aids.0000194132.51006.4f. No abstract available. PubMed 16284475 ↗
  • Gray RH, Kigozi G, Serwadda D, Makumbi F, Watya S, Nalugoda F, Kiwanuka N, Moulton LH, Chaudhary MA, Chen MZ, Sewankambo NK, Wabwire-Mangen F, Bacon MC, Williams CF, Opendi P, Reynolds SJ, Laeyendecker O, Quinn TC, Wawer MJ. Male circumcision for HIV prevention in men in Rakai, Uganda: a randomised trial. Lancet. 2007 Feb 24;369(9562):657-66. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60313-4. PubMed 17321311 ↗
  • Grabowski MK, Gray RH, Makumbi F, Kagaayi J, Redd AD, Kigozi G, Reynolds SJ, Nalugoda F, Lutalo T, Wawer MJ, Serwadda D, Quinn TC, Tobian AAR. Use of injectable hormonal contraception and women's risk of herpes simplex virus type 2 acquisition: a prospective study of couples in Rakai, Uganda. Lancet Glob Health. 2015 Aug;3(8):e478-e486. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(15)00086-8. Epub 2015 Jun 17. PubMed 26094162 ↗
  • Gray R, Kigozi G, Kong X, Ssempiija V, Makumbi F, Wattya S, Serwadda D, Nalugoda F, Sewenkambo NK, Wawer MJ. The effectiveness of male circumcision for HIV prevention and effects on risk behaviors in a posttrial follow-up study. AIDS. 2012 Mar 13;26(5):609-15. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e3283504a3f. PubMed 22210632 ↗
  • Wawer MJ, Tobian AA, Kigozi G, Kong X, Gravitt PE, Serwadda D, Nalugoda F, Makumbi F, Ssempiija V, Sewankambo N, Watya S, Eaton KP, Oliver AE, Chen MZ, Reynolds SJ, Quinn TC, Gray RH. Effect of circumcision of HIV-negative men on transmission of human papillomavirus to HIV-negative women: a randomised trial in Rakai, Uganda. Lancet. 2011 Jan 15;377(9761):209-18. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61967-8. Epub 2011 Jan 6. PubMed 21216000 ↗
  • Gray RH, Serwadda D, Kong X, Makumbi F, Kigozi G, Gravitt PE, Watya S, Nalugoda F, Ssempijja V, Tobian AA, Kiwanuka N, Moulton LH, Sewankambo NK, Reynolds SJ, Quinn TC, Iga B, Laeyendecker O, Oliver AE, Wawer MJ. Male circumcision decreases acquisition and increases clearance of high-risk human papillomavirus in HIV-negative men: a randomized trial in Rakai, Uganda. J Infect Dis. 2010 May 15;201(10):1455-62. doi: 10.1086/652184. PubMed 20370483 ↗
  • Gray RH, Serwadda D, Tobian AA, Chen MZ, Makumbi F, Suntoke T, Kigozi G, Nalugoda F, Iga B, Quinn TC, Moulton LH, Laeyendecker O, Reynolds SJ, Kong X, Wawer MJ. Effects of genital ulcer disease and herpes simplex virus type 2 on the efficacy of male circumcision for HIV prevention: Analyses from the Rakai trials. PLoS Med. 2009 Nov;6(11):e1000187. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000187. Epub 2009 Nov 24. PubMed 19936044 ↗
  • Mehta SD, Gray RH, Auvert B, Moses S, Kigozi G, Taljaard D, Puren A, Agot K, Serwadda D, Parker CB, Wawer MJ, Bailey RC. Does sex in the early period after circumcision increase HIV-seroconversion risk? Pooled analysis of adult male circumcision clinical trials. AIDS. 2009 Jul 31;23(12):1557-64. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e32832afe95. PubMed 19571722 ↗
  • Kiggundu V, Watya S, Kigozi G, Serwadda D, Nalugoda F, Buwembo D, Settuba A, Anyokorit M, Nkale J, Kighoma N, Ssempijja V, Wawer M, Gray RH. The number of procedures required to achieve optimal competency with male circumcision: findings from a randomized trial in Rakai, Uganda. BJU Int. 2009 Aug;104(4):529-32. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2009.08420.x. Epub 2009 Apr 21. PubMed 19389002 ↗
  • Tobian AA, Serwadda D, Quinn TC, Kigozi G, Gravitt PE, Laeyendecker O, Charvat B, Ssempijja V, Riedesel M, Oliver AE, Nowak RG, Moulton LH, Chen MZ, Reynolds SJ, Wawer MJ, Gray RH. Male circumcision for the prevention of HSV-2 and HPV infections and syphilis. N Engl J Med. 2009 Mar 26;360(13):1298-309. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0802556. PubMed 19321868 ↗
  • Tobian AA, Charvat B, Ssempijja V, Kigozi G, Serwadda D, Makumbi F, Iga B, Laeyendecker O, Riedesel M, Oliver A, Chen MZ, Reynolds SJ, Wawer MJ, Gray RH, Quinn TC. Factors associated with the prevalence and incidence of herpes simplex virus type 2 infection among men in Rakai, Uganda. J Infect Dis. 2009 Apr 1;199(7):945-9. doi: 10.1086/597074. PubMed 19220138 ↗
  • Kigozi G, Gray RH, Wawer MJ, Serwadda D, Makumbi F, Watya S, Nalugoda F, Kiwanuka N, Moulton LH, Chen MZ, Sewankambo NK, Wabwire-Mangen F, Bacon MC, Ridzon R, Opendi P, Sempijja V, Settuba A, Buwembo D, Kiggundu V, Anyokorit M, Nkale J, Kighoma N, Charvat B. The safety of adult male circumcision in HIV-infected and uninfected men in Rakai, Uganda. PLoS Med. 2008 Jun 3;5(6):e116. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0050116. PubMed 18532873 ↗
  • Kigozi G, Watya S, Polis CB, Buwembo D, Kiggundu V, Wawer MJ, Serwadda D, Nalugoda F, Kiwanuka N, Bacon MC, Ssempijja V, Makumbi F, Gray RH. The effect of male circumcision on sexual satisfaction and function, results from a randomized trial of male circumcision for human immunodeficiency virus prevention, Rakai, Uganda. BJU Int. 2008 Jan;101(1):65-70. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2007.07369.x. PubMed 18086100 ↗
  • Gray RH, Makumbi F, Serwadda D, Lutalo T, Nalugoda F, Opendi P, Kigozi G, Reynolds SJ, Sewankambo NK, Wawer MJ. Limitations of rapid HIV-1 tests during screening for trials in Uganda: diagnostic test accuracy study. BMJ. 2007 Jul 28;335(7612):188. doi: 10.1136/bmj.39210.582801.BE. Epub 2007 Jun 1. PubMed 17545184 ↗
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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 24, 2007, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00425984
Lead sponsor
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Collaborators
Fogarty International Center of the National Institute of Health
First posted
Jan 24, 2007
Start date
Aug 2002
Completion
Dec 2006
Last update
Aug 24, 2007

Study contacts

Ronald H. Gray, MD
principal investigator · Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health Sciences, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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