The Horrific Practice of Famale Genital Mutilation

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a cultural practice performed in different parts of the world. Although the type and prevalence may be different, FGM affects the well-being of millions of women and children. According to Wold Health Organization (WHO), female genital mutilation is the practice of injuring or cutting partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-therapeutic reasons (2008).

Before discussing the health consequences of the practice, it is important to explain the different types of FGM. The type of mutilation practiced, the age at which it is carried out and the way in which it is done, vary according to a variety of factors. These include the woman or girl’s ethnic group, what country they are living in, whether in a rural or urban area and their socio-economic background. According to WHO, they can be grouped into four categories. Type I is the excision of the clitoral prepuce with or without excision of part or the entire clitoris. Type II is excision of the clitoris with partial or total excision of the labia minora. Type III is excision of part or all of the external genitalia with stitching of the vaginal opening and is called infibulation and the heterogeneous Type IV includes pricking, incising or piercing of the external genitalia, stretching of the clitoris and or labia, cauterisation by burning of the clitoris and surrounding tissue or any other procedure that is performed to cause vaginal narrowing or tightening (2008). It is usually performed by traditional practitioners with or without anesthesia using a knife, a razor blade or broken glass. FGM has been linked in some countries to necessary rites of passage to womanhood along very serious consequences, resulting in poor hea...

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...irth canal. However, as stated previously, FGM have negative sexual health effects for women having undergone the procedure by the formation of scars after the circumcision causing pain during childbirth. Also, the woman might experience painful sexual intercourse and the man might lose his sexual desire.

In conclusion, the practices of FGM have psychological, physical, sociological, and sexual consequences for women having undergone the procedure. According to UNICEF, the scars left by genital mutilation are both physical and psychological and often permanent. (The frequency of complications increases with the degree of mutilation.). Working with-not against-cultural and community practices, and beliefs, and targeting local, national and international levels of influence, helps to end FGM and protect future generations from experiencing this harmful procedure.