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Wikipedia defines female circumcision as any procedure where all or part of the female external genitalia is removed or injured for cultural, religious, or other non-therapeutic reasons.

This practice is done world-wide, but mainly in Africa.  There is much opposition to these practices due to the lack of consent from the patient, safety, and long-term effects of the procedure.

• The WHO has estimated that 100-140  million girls and women are living with after effects of Female Genital Mutilation.
• In Africa, 3 million girls are at risk for being forced into the procedure.
• Female Circumcision procedures can lead to: severe bleeding, problems urinating, complications with childbirth, and death in newborns.
• This procedure is often performed on girls age newborn to 15 years of age.

There are 4 major types of Female Genital Mutilation:

1. Clitoridectomy: either partial or complete removal of the clitoris and sometimes the prepuce ( fold of skin over the clitoris).
2. Excision: partial or complete removal of the clitoris and the labia minora.  It may occur with or without excision of the labia majora.
3. Infibulation:  this is done to narrow the vaginal opening.  It is done by creating a seal by cutting and repositioning the inner and/or outer labia.  It may or may not involve removal of the clitoris.
4. Other:  This encompasses any procedure deemed harmful to the female genitalia for non-medial reasons.  This may include; pricking, piercing, incising, scraping, or cauterizing the genital area.

There are no health benefits associated with Female Circumcision.  Some of the immediate consequences that can be seen are; severe bleeding, shock, hemorrhage, tetanus or sepsis, urine retention, and open sores.

Some of the long-term effects are; recurring bladder and urinary tract infections, cysts, infertility, they may need surgery, newborn deaths, and child birthing complications.

Female Genital Mutilation is done for several reasons including; religious, cultural, and social reasons in a community or within a family.

• FGM is considered by some as a natural part of raising a girl and preparing her for marriage and child birth.
• It is often motivated by beliefs on accepted sexual behavior.  It is thought by some to lessen a woman’s libido and help her to resist unneeded sexual acts.
• It also associated with the notion that women are clean and it is natural to remove parts that are considered male or unclean.
• It is often enforced by religious leaders