A qualitative study of women's lived experience after deinfibulation in the UK

Surgical or medical interventions for female genital mutilation

“…). All identified studies were conducted in the following high‐income countries: France (n=1), Norway (n=2), Sweden (n=2), and the UK (n=1), and included immigrant women and healthcare providers as participants. Two studies specifically explored women's experience of deinfibulation, three explored healthcare providers’ experiences of caring for women with FGM during pregnancy and childbirth, and in one the focus was on women's motivations for clitoral repair.…”

“…Somali and Eritrean women attending a clinic in London seemed disconcerted by and disliked the appearance of their genitalia post deinfibulation . Women described being discontent with the new appearance, describing how they had “got used to what it was before” and following the procedure it was “like an empty place.” Another woman elaborated that, “I think it looks funny and it looks better if it is closed and like this does not look nice.…”

“…In my country all women are circumcised. Therefore no‐one feels different and they never think about what would happen.” In a study of Somali women living in Norway, most women were opposed to any reinfibulation, and in the UK study women expressed a range of views about the prospect of reinfibulation: one requested it but was turned down, others stated they did not wish to be “closed up” again, and those in favor believed that reinfibulation could correct incontinence or was necessary after multiple pregnancies and births …”

“…This is where careful summaries of qualitative evidence can help, by providing information on the factors that facilitate or act as barriers to use of deinfibulation. For example, social acceptability and male partners’ views of deinfibulation are likely to be important influences on uptake as well as women's ability to cope with the social and physical consequences of the procedure . Likewise, qualitative research can reveal the conditions that are necessary for implementing interventions, including healthcare providers’ knowledge and experience, the service delivery environment, as well as broader health system contexts.…”

Psychological and counselling interventions for female genital mutilation

“…As well as psychological support for women experiencing mental health problems, women living with FGM may need additional support when seeking surgical interventions to improve their health and well‐being, including the correction of complications of FGM. For example, there is evidence to suggest that women are often disconcerted by the physical changes and appearance of deinfibulated labia, or that undergoing any surgery related to FGM may remind women of the initial trauma caused by FGM . For these reasons there is increased interest in considering the benefits or otherwise of psychological support or counselling for women alongside surgical procedures.…”