Female Genital Mutilation

Female genital mutilation FGM is a harmful and brutal practice of partially or completely removing, cutting, sewing or piercing of external female genitalia, breaching several human rights principles. It is illegal in the U.K.

It’s also known as female circumcision or cutting, and by other terms, such as sunna, gudniin, halalays, tahur, megrez and khitan, among others.

FGM is usually carried out on young girls between infancy and the age of 15, most commonly before puberty starts. It is an extremely inhuman and tragic demonstration of how the lives and existence of women could be dictated by the society and community.

​Female genital mutilation can often be associated with both long term and immediate medical, psychological and psycho-social adverse consequences which can be shock, excessive bleeding, acute and chronic pain, reproductive tract infection and sexually transmitted infection, causing complications during child birth, urinary and menstrual problems, psychological consequences like post traumatic stress disorder, many more and can even lead to death as a result of excessive bleeding or sepsis.

It is mostly performed on young girls and infants and is therefore a violation of the rights of the child. The practice also violates the rights to health, security and physical integrity of the person, the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and the right to life.

FGM can make it difficult and painful to have sex. It can also result in reduced sexual desire and a lack of pleasurable sensation. Talk to your GP or another healthcare professional if you have sexual problems that you feel may be caused by FGM, as they can refer you to a special therapist who can help. In some cases, a surgical procedure called a Deinfibulation may be recommended, which can alleviate and improve some symptoms.

​Many women with FGM can find it difficult to become pregnant, and those who do conceive can have problems in childbirth.

If you are pregnant It’s really important to tell your midwife if you think this has happened to you so they can arrange the best appropriate care for you and you baby.

FGM can be an extremely traumatic experience that often cause emotional difficulties throughout life, including:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Flashbacks to the time of the cutting
• Nightmares and other sleep problems

If you’re experiencing emotional or mental health problems that may be a result of FGM. Help and support is available and you can speak to a GP or Health Care Professional.

Surgery can be performed to open up the vagina, if necessary. This is called deinfibulation. It’s sometimes known as a reversal, the name is very misleading, as the procedure doesn’t replace any removed tissue or doesn’t undo any damage caused. But it can help many problems caused by FGM.

Surgery may be recommended for any issues or problems which are a result of FGM:

​• Women who are unable to have sex or have difficulty urinating
• Pregnant women at risk of problems during labour or delivery

Deinfibulation should be carried out before pregnancy if possible. It can be done during pregnancy or labour if necessary, but ideally it should be done before the last 2 months of pregnancy. The surgery involves making a cut to open the scar tissue over the entrance to the vagina. It’s usually performed under local anaesthetic in a clinic and you will not normally need to stay overnight. A small number of women need either a general anaesthetic or an injection in the back (epidural), which may involve a short stay in hospital.

​FGM is carried out for various cultural or religious and social reasons within families and communities, in the mistaken belief that it will be beneficial to the girl in some way for example, most communities it’s considered to be an honour for the family and young girls to have their genitalia mutilated. Those who have undergone the process are glorified ,rewarded, considered as more feminine, marriageable, clean and pure with their virginity intact. On the contrary those who do not comply often face with several untoward outcomes.

They are stigmatised, tortured, socially isolated and harassed and have to live with fear and insecurities of not getting married or not to be able to have a family. Many people, in spite of being aware of its harmful and traumatic consequences, choose their daughters to undergo it as a result of the immense social pressure. There are no acceptable reasons that justify FGM. It’s a harmful practice that has no health benefits. Girls are sometimes taken abroad for FGM, but they may not be aware this is the reason for their travel. Girls are more at risk of FGM being carried out during the summer holidays, as this allows more time for them to “heal” before they return to school.

​Girls who were born in the UK or are resident here but whose families originate from an FGM practising community are at greater risk of FGM happening to them.

Communities at particular risk of FGM in the UK originate from:

Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen.

The law and FGM:

FGM is illegal in the UK.​

It’s an offence to:​

• Perform FGM (including taking a child abroad for FGM)
• Help a girl perform FGM on herself in or outside the UK
• Help anyone perform FGM in the UK
• Help anyone perform FGM outside the UK on a UK national or resident
• Fail to protect a girl for whom you’re responsible from FGM
• Anyone who performs FGM can face up to 14 years in prison
• Anyone found guilty of failing to protect a girl from FGM can face up to 7 years in prison

It’s also illegal to take abroad a British national or permanent resident for FGM, or to help someone trying to do this. Someone can face up to 14 years in prison for carrying out FGM or helping it to take place.

If there’s immediate danger:

​• Contact the police if you or someone you know is in immediate danger of FGM.
• You should also contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office if you know a British national who’s already been taken abroad.
• If you’re abroad you can contact the nearest British embassy, commission or consulate.

If you or someone you know is at risk:

• Contact the NSPCC anonymously if you’re worried that a girl or young woman is at risk or is a victim of FGM.

NSPCC FGM Helpline
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0800 028 3550
From overseas: +44 (0)800 028 3550
Find out about call charges.

UK organisations you can get help and advice in the UK from:
Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development (FORWARD)
Daughters of Eve
In England you can find NHS specialist clinics for FGM.

In Scotland you can contact:
FGM Aware
AMINA – The Muslim Women’s Resource Centre
Saheliya
Shakti Women’s Aid