Female genital mutilation otherwise known in traditional circles as circumcision involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. Simply put it is the act of cutting a sizeable part of the clitoris of the girl child.
This dastardly act has left many who have been subjected to the practice in terrible physical, emotional, and psychological pain. Sadly, practitioners have reasons for indulging in the act hence the need for continuous advocacy and sensitization on the need to halt the evil practice.
LEADERSHIP Weekend findings show that among the reasons adduced for the practice was that a girl left uncircumcised will be promiscuous, also they claimed that if the head of a baby touches the clitoris in the process of birth, the baby will not survive among other fears created in the mind of nursing mothers. But science has proved wrong all the superstitious beliefs that had put people in bondage in the past and things are taking dramatic change as the truth unfolds.
Also, it was gathered that the practice is mostly carried out on young girls sometime between infancy and adolescence, and occasionally on adult women. As statistics show that more than three million girls are estimated to be at risk for female genital mutilation annually.
Speaking on the danger inherent in the practice a medical practitioner, Dr Segun Olaogun said some of the dangers of female genital mutilation are sexual risks, pain during sexual intercourse, and lack of sexual satisfaction.
Others according to him are reduction in sexual desire and arousal, decreased lubrication during sexual intercourse, and reduced frequency of orgasm or anorgasmia.
According to him, the risks also include Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression.”
Besides, Olaogun contended that victims are liable to infection that can lead to damages that can result in an inability to get pregnant, and even some infections when not attended to promptly can lead to complications that could lead to death.
Also, the World Health Organisation said female genital mutilation has no health benefits whatsoever.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), female genital mutilation is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. The body said it reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women, adding that it is nearly always carried out on minors and is a violation of the rights of children. The practice also violates a person’s rights to health, security, and physical integrity, the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, and the right to life when the procedure results in death.
The global health body said the practice is mostly carried out by traditional circumcisers, who often play other central roles in communities, such as attending childbirths, adding that in many settings, healthcare providers perform FGM due to the belief that the procedure is safer when medicalized.
WHO said, ‘’More than 200 million girls and women alive today have been subjected to the practice, according to data from 30 countries where population data exist.
‘’The practice is mainly concentrated in the Western, Eastern, and North-Eastern regions of Africa, in some countries in the Middle East and Asia, as well as among migrants from these areas. FGM is therefore a global concern.
‘’FGM has no health benefits, and it harms girls and women in many ways. It involves removing and damaging healthy and normal female genital tissue and interferes with the natural functions of girls and women’s bodies. Generally speaking, risks of FGM increase with increasing severity (which here corresponds to the amount of tissue damaged), although all forms of FGM are associated with increased health risks.
‘’Immediate complications can include severe pain, excessive bleeding (haemorrhage), genital tissue, swelling, fever, infections e.g., tetanus, urinary problems, wound healing problems, injury to surrounding genital tissue, shock, and death.
‘’Long-term complications can include: urinary problems (painful urination, urinary tract infections); vaginal problems (discharge, itching, bacterial vaginosis, and other infections); menstrual problems (painful menstruations, difficulty in passing menstrual blood, etc.); scar tissue and keloid; sexual problems (pain during intercourse, decreased satisfaction, etc.); increased risk of childbirth complications (difficult delivery, excessive bleeding, caesarean section, need to resuscitate the baby, etc.) and newborn deaths; the need for later surgeries: for example, the sealing or narrowing of the vaginal opening (Type 3) may lead to the practice of cutting open the sealed vagina later to allow for sexual intercourse and childbirth (deinfibulation).
‘’Sometimes genital tissue is stitched again several times, including after childbirth, hence the woman goes through repeated opening and closing procedures, further increasing both immediate and long-term risks; psychological problems (depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, low self-esteem, etc.) WHO strongly urges health care providers not to perform FGM.’’
Also, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said there are four types of FGM: ‘’Type I, also called clitoridectomy, involves partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or prepuce.
‘’Type II, also called excision, is the partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora.
‘’Type III, also called infibulation, is the narrowing of the vaginal orifice with a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and re-positioning the labia minora and/or the labia majora. Later in life, infibulated women may be cut open on the first night of marriage and/or before childbirth.
‘’Type IV is any other harmful procedure to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, such as pricking, piercing, incising, scraping or cauterization.’’
UNFPA explained that types I and II are most prevalent, but variation exists within countries and communities. Type III – infibulation – is experienced by about 10 per cent of all affected women.
The body said where it is practiced, FGM is supported by both men and women, usually without question. Yet the reasons for the practice are often rooted in gender inequality, adding that in some communities, it is carried out to control women’s and girls’ sexuality. It is sometimes a prerequisite for marriage – and is closely linked to child marriage.
It said some societies perform FGM because of myths about female genitalia, for example, that an uncut clitoris will grow to the size of a penis, or that FGM will enhance fertility, while others view the external female genitalia as dirty and ugly.
‘’Whatever the reason behind it, FGM violates the human rights of women and girls and deprives them of the opportunity to make critical, informed decisions about their bodies and lives,’’ UNFPA said.
The body said the practice predates the rise of Christianity and Islam, adding that it is said that some Egyptian mummies display characteristics of FGM. Historians such as Herodotus claim that, in the fifth century BC, the Phoenicians, the Hittites and the Ethiopians practiced circumcision.
According to UNFPA, ‘’It is also reported that circumcision rites were adopted in tropical zones of Africa, in the Philippines, by certain tribes in the Upper Amazon, by women of the Arunta tribe in Australia, and by certain early Romans and Arabs. As recent as the 1950s, clitoridectomy was practiced in Western Europe and the United States to treat perceived ailments, including mental and sexual disorders. Today, the practice can be found in communities around the world.
‘’And while it is often thought to be connected to Islam, it is not endorsed by Islam, and many non-Islamic communities practice FGM. Yet no religion promotes or condones it, and many religious leaders have denounced it.
‘’FGM – no matter where or by whom it is performed – has serious implications for the sexual and reproductive health of girls and women.
‘’The effects of FGM vary depending on the type performed, the expertise of the practitioner, and the conditions under which it is performed. Complications can include severe pain, shock, haemorrhage, infection, urine retention, and more. In some cases, haemorrhage and infection can be severe enough to cause death. Long-term risks include complications during childbirth and psychological effects.
‘’FGM is traditionally performed by a designated community member, sometimes using rudimentary tools like razor blades, often without anaesthetic or antiseptics. But it may also be carried out by medical practitioners – known as “medicalized FGM.” Yet even in these cases, there may be serious health consequences.’’
Furthermore, the body said when medical personnel performs FGM, they can wrongly convey the message that the practice is medically sound, further entrenching it.
‘’But there are ways to end FGM. Collective abandonment, in which an entire community chooses to no longer engage in FGM, is an effective way to end the practice. It ensures that no single girl or family will be disadvantaged by the decision,” it said.
Some victims of genital mutilation who spoke with LEADERSHIP Weekend recall the harrowing effect of the primitive act on them.
Maryam, not real name, told LEADERSHIP Weekend the pain she had when the mutilation was performed on her lingers on apart from the effect that has made it difficult for her to enjoy her marriage.
According to her, ‘’Sexual intercourse that supposed to give her pleasure has become a source of pain to her which in effect has caused disaffection between her and her husband.’’
But Simiat Alonge who had it at age six said the government should come up with laws with a stringent measure against violators.
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →
Join Our WhatsApp Channel
