All procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons
Aetiology
Practised throughout Africa and the Middle East, performed for many reasons
Illegal in the UK
Management
Psychological and educational input
Antenatally, women who have been cut should be assessed and, if necessary, offered deinfibulation before the birth
In women with type 3 mutilation, the introitus may be too narrow for childbirth, and the tissues that have sealed together need to be separated (deinfibulation)
Complications
Short term
Haemorrhage
Urinary retention
Genital swelling
Infection and sepsis
Long term
UTIs
Urinary stricture or fistulae
Dyspareunia, apareunia and impaired sexual function