Circumcision, Female

Abstract

Female circumcision (otherwise called as female genital mutilation or female genital cutting) refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons. More than 125 million girls and women alive today have been cut in the 29 countries in Africa and Middle East where the practice is concentrated. The procedure varies from an insignificant cut to a major mutilation. However, it has been shown to have no health benefits, can harm girls and women, and therefore raises ethical concerns about the right of the child and dignity of the woman. In its cultural context, ensuring that a daughter undergoes genital cutting as a child or teenager is a parental loving act meant to make certain of her marriageability. This is particularly important in societies where there is little economic viability for women outside marriage. The health profession faces ethical issues and challenges about medicalization of the procedure, medical alternative rituals, obstetric care for women who have had the procedure, and responding to requests for resuturing after delivery. The elimination of this harmful traditional practice may be promoted less effectively by insensitive enforcement of criminal laws than by the counseling and education of patients and communities.