--- title: Can New Circumcision Devices Help Fight AIDS in Africa? description: It’s a lofty, but vital goal. Africa wants to circumcise 20 million men by 2015 to help curb the AIDS epidemic plaguing the continent. Studies... canonical: https://time.com/archive/7139373/can-new-circumcision-devices-help-fight-aids-in-africa/ author: Alexandra Sifferlin article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2012-02-01T10:00:07.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-03-16T10:36:49.950Z article:section: Health og:title: Can New Circumcision Devices Help Fight AIDS in Africa? og:description: It’s a lofty, but vital goal. Africa wants to circumcise 20 million men by 2015 to help curb the AIDS epidemic plaguing the continent. Studies... og:url: https://time.com/archive/7139373/can-new-circumcision-devices-help-fight-aids-in-africa/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt74a301a6c3d9a928/698a93d8457a52c7b0d7080d/prepex.jpg?branch=production&width=600&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 600 og:image:height: 338 og:image:alt: prepex og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Can New Circumcision Devices Help Fight AIDS in Africa? twitter:description: It’s a lofty, but vital goal. Africa wants to circumcise 20 million men by 2015 to help curb the AIDS epidemic plaguing the continent. Studies... twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt74a301a6c3d9a928/698a93d8457a52c7b0d7080d/prepex.jpg?branch=production&width=600&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Health](/section/health/) # Can New Circumcision Devices Help Fight AIDS in Africa? > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=5a00e6c4-c128-46c9-b49f-2677b585beef&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### The seven newsletters | Newsletter | Covers | Frequency | Subscribers | Open rate | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily | 540,000 | 45.6% | | Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | 430,000 | 50.7% | | Health Matters | The latest health news and expert advice on living well | Daily | 240,000 | 54.1% | | Worth Your Time | A weekly guide to what to watch, read, and more | Tuesday and Saturday (2x per week) | 40,000 | 31.7% | | D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Monday to Saturday (3x per week) | 85,000 | 37.0% | | Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) | 40,000 | 34.2% | | In the Loop | Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution | Tuesday and Friday (2x per week) | 25,000 | 28.6% | Source: TIME, August 2026. Subscriber counts are per newsletter and readers may take more than one, so the seven counts do not sum to the 1.1 million+ unique newsletter audience. ### Key data points | Metric | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 | | Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 | | Highest open rate | 54.1%, Health Matters | TIME, August 2026 | | Largest list | 540,000, The Brief | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Publishing since | 1923 | TIME | ### TIME Newsletters: key statements * Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923. Its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting, so readers can trust what they read. * All seven newsletters are free. Readers pick the ones they want at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=5a00e6c4-c128-46c9-b49f-2677b585beef&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). * The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=5a00e6c4-c128-46c9-b49f-2677b585beef&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What newsletters does TIME publish? TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (daily health), Worth Your Time (culture, twice weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, three times a week), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers. #### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to? It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters. #### Are TIME's newsletters free? Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes TIME's newsletters? TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. by [Alexandra Sifferlin](https://time.com/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) Feb 1, 2012 10:00 AM UTC  The Prepex, recently approved by the FDA, is device for non-surgical adult male circumcision for HIV. The Prepex, recently approved by the FDA, is device for non-surgical adult male circumcision for HIV. PrePrex by [Alexandra Sifferlin](https://time.com/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) Feb 1, 2012 10:00 AM UTC It’s a lofty, but vital goal. Africa wants to circumcise 20 million men by 2015 to help curb the AIDS epidemic plaguing the continent. Studies show that the procedure is one of the most effective “vaccines” against HIV, reducing the risk of infection in men by at least 60%, the New York _Times_ [reports](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/31/health/aids-prevention-inspires-ways-to-simplify-circumcision.html). However, only about 600,000 men have had the operation so far and the clock is ticking — every missed day means more chances for infection. The main obstacle lies in a shortage of surgeons to provide circumcision, and provide it quickly. According to the _Times_, it takes a skilled surgeon about 15 minutes per circumcision and such doctors are hard to come by in Africa. Now, new circumcision devices on the market may help fill the demand. PrePex and Shang Ring are two devices under evaluation by the World Health Organization (WHO) to speed the process, Dr. Stefano Bertozzi, director of HIV for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation told the _Times_. The FDA approved PrePex just a few weeks ago. It was invented in 2009 by four Israelis, one a urologist who heard the plea for surgeons in Africa. Out of all similar devices, PrePex is so far the quickest, least bloody and least painful. It’s also remarkably simple — its technology is based on a rubber band. According to the _Times_: --- > “” --- (You can watch a video of PrePex being used on an adult patient [here](http://www.prepex.com/procedure%5Fvideo), but be warned, the images are explicit.) According to Dr. Jason Reed, an epidemiologist in the global AIDS division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PrePex could increase circumcisions to 400 a day, compared to the current 60 to 80\. The device can be placed and removed in minutes by trained nurses. The WHO is also considering the Shang Ring, a Chinese device with a plastic two-ring clamp. Unlike PrePex, the Chinese contraption requires the medical provider to cut excess foreskin beyond the clamp, which means injections of anesthetics are needed, as well as enough training for the provider to perform minor surgery. “The Shang is not as fast, but it’s faster than full-fledged surgery,” AIDS-prevention expert Mitchell Warren told the _Times_. “And it hasn’t submitted as much safety data.” Although there are a few other devices on the market, PrePex and Shang Ring are the most promising. If approved for use by WHO, the devices could be fundamental in helping Africa meet its goal. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/archive/7139373/can-new-circumcision-devices-help-fight-aids-in-africa/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/archive/7139373/can-new-circumcision-devices-help-fight-aids-in-africa/"},"headline":"Can New Circumcision Devices Help Fight AIDS in Africa?","datePublished":"2012-02-01T10:00:07.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-16T10:36:49.950Z","description":"It’s a lofty, but vital goal. Africa wants to circumcise 20 million men by 2015 to help curb the AIDS epidemic plaguing the continent. Studies...","url":"https://time.com/archive/7139373/can-new-circumcision-devices-help-fight-aids-in-africa/","keywords":["Recall","Pfizer"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt74a301a6c3d9a928/698a93d8457a52c7b0d7080d/prepex.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Alexandra Sifferlin","url":"https://time.com/author/alexandra-sifferlin/"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt74a301a6c3d9a928/698a93d8457a52c7b0d7080d/prepex.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"prepex","caption":"The Prepex, recently approved by the FDA, is device for non-surgical adult male circumcision for HIV.","creditText":"PrePrex","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/archive/7139373/can-new-circumcision-devices-help-fight-aids-in-africa/","name":"Can New Circumcision Devices Help Fight AIDS in Africa?"}}]}] ```