Best Of All Scrubbed Up (Part 1)

Not enough bloggers take the time to go back in the archives and rehash some of their best material... Egotistically speaking of course.

But we're different.

So, in case you didn't catch it the first time round - here's a quick series of posts with the REALLY funny stuff, the most viewed, the most commented, the dugg, the undugg...

Welcome to Best of All Scrubbed Up!

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Talkin' about foreskin

More than a year ago, we started this blog with but two simple goals. Have some fun and make some statements about the South African (and international medical fraternity). What better way to start than an expose on what really matters to guys.

Their... well, thingies and the end of their thingy.

FORESKIN EXPOSE PART 1 - To chop or not to chop

FORESKIN EXPOSE PART 2 - Revenge of the Sif.

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TV Doctor Showdown...

Doctors are all over the tube. They're in our face and up our proverbial skirts. And mostly... (well according to SA Doc at least)... they're a bunch of bollocks. So how would they fair when placed in a real-world tough-gun situation. Say... ummm... a night in Baragwanath in the TRAUMA ward (AFTER a Chiefs vs Pirates soccer game).

Find out here :)

TV Doctor Showdown - Meredith Grey
TV Doctor Showdown - Perry Cox
TV Doctor Showdown - Gregory House

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And there ends the lesson. What do you think of the BEST OF selection? Let us know in the comments...

Digg users and their misguides views about HIV...

I don't want to bite the hand that feeds. Don't get me wrong. Although come to think about it - All Scrubbed Up has never been super digg'd. But here's to hoping.

I keep an eye on our Medically Dugg section bottom right of this blog. It's always interesting to see what mass audiences of voting as the interesting medical stories of the day. Some are great. Some... Well.

Take this one for example. It popped up a few days ago and tries to lay a groundwork for supporting the fact that circumcision might INCREASE the chance on contracting HIV. We argued differently. And there's a reason.

Scientists found that infected men who resumed sexual activity before their circumcision wounds healed were more likely to spread the virus than infected men who didn't have the surgery.

"This is a complicated situation ... but it seems that HIV-positive men initiating sex before wound healing is potentially dangerous for transmitting HIV," said Dr. Kevin M. De Cock, head of the World Health Organization's HIV/AIDS department.

Oh. My. Now THAT's a mind-blowing glimpse of the bloody obvious.

The results of the research so far are not statistically significant, scientists noted.

Oh. Really? Excuse the sarcasm!

I guess I'm ticked for 3 reasons. One. We've never been super digg'd - but dangerous, stupid articles like this do. Two. The articles add fuel to an already full fire - on a subject where too many non-medical people care to make medical judgement. Three. We've never been super digg'd.

Carte Blanche agrees - circumcision lowers risk of HIV transmission...

Aha. Carte Blanche agrees - circumcision can almost HALVE your risk of contracting HIV. Yet no-one believed us when we said it... The show is playing currently, but they should have the backup research studies on their site soon.

Jury out? There are some telling articles on the net. Try this one.

It used to be called the unkindest cut. But now the head of the one of the world's largest Aids charities believes we are on the brink of a revolution in attitudes to circumcision.

Richard Feachem, executive director of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, said research revealing the protective effect of circumcision against HIV was set to change parental expectations and medical practice across the world. Instead of viewing the operation as an assault on the male sex, it was increasingly being seen as a lifesaving procedure which every parent would want for their sons.

Removing the foreskin is thought to harden the glans (head) of the penis, making it less permeable to viruses. Research conducted in 2005 showed the transmission of HIV from women to men during sex was reduced by 60 per cent if the men were circumcised.

A study published last month calculated that if all men in sub-Saharan Africa were circumcised, it would prevent almost six million new cases of HIV infection and save three million lives over the next 20 years.

This is no longer only a choice issue. It is now a health issue. Six million potential lives say so.

PS. They also stated, on national television, at last, that HIV prevalency in upper class South Africa is on the rise. Certain commentors from our previous HIV article - take heed.

The ForeSkin. Part II. Revenge of the Sif.

Right. As promised... the second post - bringing this whole sticky argument to a head. Cough. If you weren't convinced last time - three more points to try and sway it.

1. You will have a proven, lower risk of contracting STD's - not harbouring crawlies under there will help.

2. You therefore have a lower risk of contracting HIV. Less microtears. And, you did know that STD's and HIV like to hold hands?

3. And finally, come on guys, it just looks better! The "extra inch" it adds is more than compensated by the apparent increase in girth.

Not much more we can say, aside from thanks for the comments that are still coming in about the first post. It's obviously a touchy issue. Cough.

Some interesting foreskin envy links:

- Artificial Foreskin

- The Fate of the Foreskin: A Study of Circumcision?

- Would you rather be circumcised or uncircumcised?

- Speaking of Uncut

- The Unkindest Cut of All: Circumcision no longer a popular choice?

To chop or not to chop?

This is going to be a one-sided argument. Because I'm writing it. Do you have any idea the kind of gunk that can get underneath a foreskin? An unlopped, useless piece of disease-harbouring flesh? Shudder.

Maybe I have weird friends, but this topic has come up more than once. There's always three sides. Don't cut it off. Have your parents cut it off. Have it be your decision whether you keep it or toss it (yikes!)

Oh dear Lord, please don't start me on the pro-choice argument. Yes, we live in a world of free choice - but parents make medical decisions for their kids ALL THE TIME! Try immunisations on for size (yes - it's a choice, some people don't believe in the MMR shot).

And to even name the foreskin argument over the much heftier Abortion Gig? It's a whole different ballpark to the manky extra slinky inch.

Do you really, really believe that having a foreskin gives you extra sexual pleasure? Aren't men battling to make the dreamy 10 minute mark anyway? You want them to feel more!?

Ok, ok. So you're chopped. You're obviously looking at all these dangly foreskins in the locker room, feeling this intense, brooding jealousy. Foreskin Envy. Yummy.

Well, there's hope! Now you too, can grow it back - seek out the the "professionals" who have this uncanny knack of stretching it out again. No kidding.

Next post - The ForeSkin. Part II. Revenge of the Sif.

Partly inspired by some silly chops on Carte Blanche.

Visit their site for links to the stretchy people.