Female genital mutilation

Female genital mutilation (called "female circumcision" by its practicioners) refers to a number of procedures performed on female genitals in some cultures. In the mildest form of these practices, no actual mutilation of the genitals occur, though mutilation with a knife is simulated as part of a ceremony. Of those that actually involve mutilation, the mildest involves only the removal of the hood of the clitoris. More severe is the partial or total removal of the clitoris (clitoridectomy). The most severe form of female genital mutilation is infibulation, which involves clitoridectomy, the removal of the labia minora, the cutting of the labia majora, and then sewing together the cut labia majora to cover the vagina, leaving only a small hole to allow urine? and menstrual? blood to pass through. The sewn together labia majora is then cut open by the woman's husband? before intercourse.

Female genital mutilation is mainly practiced in African countries, especially in Muslim Africa on the East coast. It is particularly common in the country of Sudan. It is most commonly performed between the ages of four and eight, without any anaesthetic? or sterilization?, and by women with no medical training. Many mutilations are performed with shards of glass and other crude tools, and it not uncommon for infection to occur, sometimes resulting in death. [Amnesty International]? estimates that over 100 million women worldwide have been the recipients of these procedures, with over 2 million female genital mutilations being performed every year.

A number of reasons are put forward for the practice of female genital mutilation. These include the belief that it prevents 'excessive' sexual desires in women. It is also believed that it is somehow more hygienic. Frequently the practice is associated with traditional [initiation ceremonies]?. Sometimes it is also defended on the grounds of alleged similarity to male circumcision, even though it is a far more radical and dangerous procedure: most forms of it are closer to penectomy.

Many African Muslims believe that female genital mutilation is required by Muslims, even though it is mentioned nowhere in the Quran, and many Arab Muslims believe the practice to be un-Islamic.

Female genital mutilation is extremely painful, and dangerous to health. The procedure, when performed (as it most commonly is) without any anaesthetic, can lead to death through shock or excessive bleeding. The failure to use sterilised medical instruments can lead to infections and the spread of disease, especially when the same instruments are used to perform procedures on multiple women. At its worst, female genital mutilation is a means of HIV transmission. Women one whom the procedure has been performed are also more likely to acquire HIV through intercourse, due to the damage to the genital area.

Infibulation has the most serious long term health effects. These include urinary and reproductive tract infections (caused by obstructed flow of urine and menstrual blood), various forms of scarring and infertility?. First sexual intercourse is extremely painful, and can result in additional damage, due to the need to cut open the labia majora. Sexual pleasure through stimulation of the clitoris, a critical part of typical female sexuality, is of course eliminated.

Female genital mutilation is prohibited in most Western countries, and there is a growing movement in the west to see it prohibited throughout the world.

Some have attacked the common Western practice of performing "corrective" surgery on the genitals of intersexuals as Western cultural equivalent of female genital mutilation.