Female Genital Mutilation: A Global Bug That Should Not Cross the Millennium Bridge

Abstract

Female genital mutilation (FGM) has been practiced worldwide, clothed under the tradocultural term "circumcision." Indications for its practice include ensuring virginity, securing fertility, securing the economic and social future of daughters, preventing the clitoris from growing long like the penis, and purely as a "tradition." Outlawed only in the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Belgium, no law forbids it in most other countries. Classified into four identified types, the current perpetrators are mainly quacks, but trained medical personnel still connive at and encourage FGM. Early complications include hemorrhage, urinary tract infection, septicemia, and tetanus. Late complications include infertility, apareunia, clitoral neuromas, and vesicovaginal fistula. Reasons for the ritual persisting include fear that legislation would force it underground and it will be performed in unsterile conditions, belief that it is racist to speak out against FGM, "tolerance" by health professionals, continued use of the term "female circumcision," lack of awareness of the culture of immigrants by the physicians in areas where FGM is not culturally practiced, and sporadic or uncommitted eradication efforts. We believe there is no reason for the continued practice of FGM. It should incur global abolition, the same way slave trade or Victorian chastity belts have done. We advocate that in medical communications the term "female genital mutilation" be used in place of "female circumcision." World leaders should include unacceptable cultural practices such as FGM in the "world summit" agenda. The year 1999 should be declared the year for global eradication of FGM.

Mismatch between Interventionists’ Messages and Local Reality of Female Genital Cutting in a Kurya Society - Northern Tanzania

“…Several epidemiological studies also linked bleeding and severe pain resulting from FGC with common health complications (see, for example, Eke andNganginieme, 1999:1082-83;El-Shawarby and Rymer, 2008:254;WHO, 2008:11).…”

An unusual cause of apareunia

“…The acquired causes may be iatrogenic including female genital mutation or circumcision4 – 6 and vaginal reconstructive surgeries7 resulting in painful keloid formation, labial adhesions and vulval disfigurement,5 , 6 vulval disease such as lichen sclerosis,8 psychosexual problems leading to vaginismus (often associated with a history of sexual abuse, trauma or rape), or as a result of malunion of stress and insufficiency pelvic fractures.…”

Current global status of female genital mutilation: A review

“…It has recently been suggested that upto 12% of FGM are performed by medical doctors with sophisticated and sterile medical equipment in hospitals and clinics. Furthermore some of the earliest practitioners of FGM included doctors from USA and Great Britain, and a physician was deregistered in Britain only in 1993 for performing illegal FGM operations (12,15).…”

“…In 1978 in Somalia, a commission was set up to abolish infibulation but its recommendations were not enforced (4,46). Over the years, the enormity of the FGM ritual has occasionally been brought to sharp focus although this attention has not been sustained (4,12). The World Health Organisation (WHO) has since 1982 consistently stated its displeasure with the health care professionals and other unqualified circumcisers involved in the practice of female genital mutilation (circumcision).…”

“…Soon, FGM became unpopular in Europe and the last operation performed allegedly on medical grounds was reported in 1924 (4). But in recent times in the United States, FGM has been practised for alleged control of female masturbation, achievement of orgasm and sexuality (12). FGM is currently performed at different ages varying from seven days to 14 years old and according to the specific tradition or culture, FGM is practised in most African countries, Oman, South Yemen, United Arab Emirates, and the Muslim populations of Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, India, Bohra, Malaya, Java, Baluchistan and Summatra.…”