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. 2008 Summer;1(3):135-9.

Female genital cutting: a persisting practice

Nawal M Nour  1
Affiliations

Female genital cutting: a persisting practice

Nawal M Nour. Rev Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Summer.

Abstract

More than 130 million women worldwide have undergone female genital cutting (FGC). FGC occurs in parts of Africa and Asia, in societies with various cultures and religions. Reasons for the continuing practice of FGC include rite of passage, preserving chastity, ensuring marriageability, religion, hygiene, improving fertility, and enhancing sexual pleasure for men. The World Health Organization has classified FGC into 4 types depending on the extent of tissue removed. Immediate complications include hemorrhage, infection, sepsis, and death. Long-term complications include pain, scarring, urinary issues, and poor obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Efforts are being made nationally and internationally to eradicate this practice.

Keywords: Female circumcision; Female genital cutting; Female genital mutilation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
World Health Organization classification of female genital cutting. Type I, also known as clitoridectomy or sunna, involves removing part or all of the clitoris and/or the prepuce. Type II, also known as excision, involves removing part or all of the clitoris and labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora. Type III, the most severe form, is also called infibulation or pharaonic. It entails removing part or all of the external genitalia and narrowing the vaginal orifice by reapproximating the labia minora and/or labia majora. Reprinted with permission from Nour N.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Female genital cutting prevalence among women aged 15–49 years. Sources: Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. Reprinted with permission from United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Statistical Exploration. New York: UNICEF; 2005:4.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A) Type III female genital cutting: infibulated scar covering urethra and introitus. A Kelly clamp is placed at the small opening. (B) Defibulation is performed. The urethra and introitus is exposed. A buried clitoris is found. (C) Completed defibulation. The clitoris, labia minora, and majora are visible.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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