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Female circumcision is very common in African countries being part of their culture and ritual. This widespread practice of female sexual mutilation in Africa was believed to be affecting the health of women. This also occurs in other parts of the world like Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. The number of mutilations in 1979 was estimated to reach about over 80 million. It is difficult to estimate the number of women across the world who may have suffered because of FGM. There is simply no medical, hygiene or health reasons for women to be subjected to FGM. This persists only as a deep rooted traditional practice among African and Middle East countries supported and sustained by women and men who strongly believed that it’s a requirement to mark the transition from childhood to adulthood.
 

Female genital mutilation is the process of partially or totally removing the external female genital organs for cultural or nontherapeutic reasons. The practice appears to be linked primarily to the groups desire to subordinate women and to control their sexuality. FGM is commonly performed upon girls between the ages of 4 and 12. Some women who were subjected to FGM are suffering from the complications of the procedure.
 

Types of FGM

1. Sunna Circumcision

Is the removal of retractable fold of skin or the tip of the clitoris.

2. Clitoridectomy

Is the removal of the entire clitoris and the adjacent labia.

3. Pharonic circumcision

Is the removal of all part of the labia minora and labia majora then stitching it up allowing only a small hole to allow for urine and menstrual blood to flow through.
 

Wrong belief of FGM ritual entrapment

They believed it enhances female fertility. This is done mostly as a social practice. They assumed women as naturally unclean and masculine because they posses a vestige of the male sex organ which is the clitoris. Women who have not undergone FGM are believed to less likely remain virgins before marriage and faithful during the course of their marriage. They are believed to more likely demonstrate masculine levels of sexual interest and activity.

Human rights perspective

FGM is a manifestation of gender-based oppression and women violence.

Aftermath of FGM

FGM usually results in pain, humiliation, psychological trauma and loss of sexual pleasure. It is associated with short term effects of infection, shock, injury to neighboring organs and severe bleeding. Long term effects include infertility, chronic infections in the urinary tract and reproductive system and increased susceptibility to hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS.