Female Genital Cutting (fGC)
Female Genital Cutting (fGC)
With Dr. Faosat Aragbaiye
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Female genital cutting means piercing, cutting removing or sewing closed all part of girl’s or woman’s external genitals for no medical reason.
Female genital cutting in Nigeria accounts for the most female genital cutting cases worldwide. The practices are customarily a family tradition that the young female of age 0-15 would experience.
The national prevalence rate of FGC is 41% among adult women. Prevalence rates progressively decline in young age groups and 37% of the circumcised women do not want FGC to continue.
FGC is practiced in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, but Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Sudan account for 42% of all cases.
Types of FGC
The four main types are:
Type 1: partial or total removal of clitoris.
Type 2:partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia
Type 3: sewing the labia together to make the vaginal opening smaller. This is called infibulations. The clitoris may be left in place.
Type 4: all other harm to the female genitalia for nonmedical purposes, including pricking, piecing, cutting, scraping, and cauterization ( burning)
Reasons for FGC
Social acceptability
To help ensure that a woman remains a virgin until marriage
Condition of marriage
Rite of passage
Hygiene
Belief that FGC increases sexual pleasure for the man
Religious duty, although no religious holy texts require FGC
Health Problems
FGC can cause immediate and long term medical problems. Type 3 causes more health problems than type 1 or type 2.
Immediate medical problems may include;
Severe pain
Serious bleeding
Infection of the wound
Trauma
Problems going to the bathroom, including burning and pain
Tetanus and other infections
Long term medical problems may include:
Infections, such as genital abscesses and infectious diseases such s hepatitis; urinary tract infections, bacterial vaginosis and HIV
Problems having sex
Depression and anxiety
Painful and prolonged menstrual pain
Urinary problems
Fistula
Effect of FGC on pregnancy
FGC does not usually cause problems for a woman during pregnancy, but women who have had FGC face unique risks during childbirth. These may include:
Prolonged labour
Excessive bleeding after childbirth
Higher risk for episiotomy
Higher risk for caesarean section
Risks to the infant include low birth weight, breathing problems at birth and stillbirth.
Disadvantages of FGC
Removal of, or damage to, highly sensitive genital tissue, especially the clitoris may affect sexual sensitivity and lead to sexual problems, such as decreased sexual desire and pleasure, pain during sex, difficulty during penetration, decreased lubrication during intercourse, and reduced frequency or absence of urge for sex.
Prevention
Community involvement in putting end to FGC practice
Passing laws against FGC
Enforcement of law passed on FGC.