What are complications of FGM?
What are complications of FGM?
FGM can cause severe bleeding and problems urinating, and later cysts, infections, as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths. More than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where FGM is practiced(1).
What happens infibulation?
The inflammatory response (inflammation) occurs when tissues are injured by bacteria, trauma, toxins, heat, or any other cause. The damaged cells release chemicals including histamine, bradykinin, and prostaglandins. These chemicals cause blood vessels to leak fluid into the tissues, causing swelling.
What are the long term effects of FGM?
Long term gynaecological concerns that have been linked to FGM include infection, scarring and keloid, menstrual difficulties, urinary symptoms and infertility.
What’s the definition of infibulation?
The most pervasive form of female genital mutilation/cutting—infibulation—involves the almost complete closure of the vaginal orifice by cutting and closing the labia to create a skin seal. A small opening remains for the passage of urine and menstrual blood.
Can FGM cause infertility?
FGM can cause a lifetime of serious health problems and pain. Girls and women who undergo FGM often experience long-term health consequences including scarring, cysts, abcesses and other tissue damage, infertility, and increased susceptibility to infections.
What are the psychological effects of FGM?
Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) can affect a woman’s mental health long after the procedure, into her adult life. Women with FGM/C often show signs of psychological trauma: anxiety, somatization, depression, post-traumatic stress and other mood disorders.
Is infibulation still in practice?
Today, infibulation and other female mutilations are still practiced in various parts of the world. There are 3 different types of infibulation, involving removal or mutilation of different parts of the female genitalia.
What is removed in infibulation?
Infibulation (also called Pharoanic circumcision). The vaginal opening is reduced by removing all or parts of the external genitalia (the clitoris, labia minora, and labia majora) and sewing, pinning, or otherwise causing the remaining tissue to fuse together during the healing process.
What is Defibulation FGM?
Vaginal defibulation is a procedure carried out to restore the vaginal opening to its previous form and function before the FGM procedure was carried out. The procedure involves the cutting of the scared area to the natural upper limit of the vaginal opening.
What are the signs of FGM?
Signs FGM might have taken place
- Having difficulty walking, standing or sitting.
- Spending longer in the bathroom or toilet.
- Appearing quiet, anxious or depressed.
- Acting differently after an absence from school or college.
- Reluctance to go to the doctors or have routine medical examinations.
Where is infibulation practiced?
Type III – infibulation – is experienced by about 10 per cent of all affected women and is most likely to occur in Somalia, northern Sudan and Djibouti.
What is clitoris removal called?
Clitoridectomy: partial or total removal of the clitoris, and in rare cases, only the prepuce.