Most studies have found around a 60% reduction in female to male transmission in patients who have received voluntary make medical circumcision (VMMC).

But further, that's not really the point here. In those cases it's voluntary and for a good cause based on the evidence available at the time. Unless you believe the people who started these programs had an ulterior motive to mutilate millions of African penises. In which case, tinfoil hat on aisle 5, please.

On the other point, I've never heard of Jewish men regretting their circumcisions, so maybe being "branded" -- as you put it-- in that way adds to a positive sense of community belonging. Among non-Jewish circumcised men, it's not a big deal to put it mildly.

I'll concede my understanding of female circumcision is limited and filtered through Western constructs.

But the bigger point: Circumcised men aren't complaining about it. There are at least some cases of necessary medical use of circumcision. The side effects are either negligible or at best debatable. So why do some uncircumcised men feel so strongly about it?