WHO defined female genital mutilation (FGM) as a procedure that involves partial or total removal of the female external genital or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

Normally done between the age of 15–49 years by a traditional circumciser using a blade. They remove the clitoral hood and clitoral glans, the inner and outer labia and closure of the vulva.

About thirty (30) countries which includes Africa, the Middle East, certain ethnic group in south America and Asia practice FGM. Also With the growing migration, many girls and women who live outside their country of origin may be at risk of being subjected to FGM in Europe, Australia
and North America.

It is estimated that more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) and about 3 million girls are still at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation every year.

Types of FGM

Type I (Clitoridectomy): This involves the partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or its prepuce.

Type II (Excision): In excision the clitoris and
labia minora are totally/partially removed with or
without excision of the labia majora.

Type III (Infibulation): Also known as pharaonic type this procedure involves the narrowing the vaginal orifice with creation of a covering seal by cutting and
appositioning the labia minora and/or labia majora,
with or without removal of the clitoris.

The appositioning of the wound edges consists of
stitching or holding the cut areas together for a
certain period of time to create the covering seal. A small opening is left for urine and menstrual blood to
escape.

This type of FGM is mostly practiced in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan.

Type IV: This type consists of all other procedures
to the female Instruments for non-medical purposes,
such as pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and
cauterization.

NOTE: Around 90% of FGM cases include either Types I (clitoridectomy), II (excision) or IV and about 10% are Type III (infibulation).


CONSEQUENCES OF FGM

Consequences of FGM include:
*.Severe pain
*.Bleeding
*.Shock
*.Difficulty in urinating
*.Infections
*.Injury to genital tissue
*.Death
*.Pelvic infections
*.Development of cysts, abscesses and genital
ulcers.
*.Infection of the reproductive system
*.Stress disorder.
*.Urinary and menstrual problems
*.Infertility
*.Defibulation and reinfibulation
*.Painful sexual intercourse.
*.Scar formation
*.Vesicovaginal (The continuous discharge of urine into the vagina) development

After sexual intercourse the male partner might also
experience pain and complications.

According to WHO women who had undergone FGM,
had significantly increased risks for adverse
events during childbirth, and has a negative effects on their newborn babies. WHO estimated in
2006 that an additional 10–20 babies die per 1,000
deliveries as a result of FGM.

Culled from[url] ihealthng..com/2016/06/effects-of-female-genital-mutilation-fgm.html[/url]