What Is Female Genital Mutilation?

Female Circumcision & Women's Rights
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a procedure that involves the removal of the external female genitalia for cultural or non- medical reasons. Female circumcision is common in Sub- Saharan Africa and the Arab States where more than 125 million girls and women today have been forced to undergo female circumcision ( WHO,2014). Female circumcision is performed mostly on young girls between the ages of infancy and 15. Female genital mutilation is practiced in some religions such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. In some societies, female genitalia is seen as unsightly and dirty, and practicing FGM is a way to reduce a woman's sexual desires to preserve her virginity. In these societies, female circumcision
According to Women's Health, female circumcision can cause immediate health problems to women who have been mutilated on. The woman who undergoes the horrific types of FGM can suffer major health problems. Major health problems include infection, depression, and painful menstrual periods ( Womens Health, 2015). Women and girls can suffer from serious infections such as genital abscesses and Hepatitis B. Genital abscesses are sores filled with pus that must be drained, which are very painful, and cannot be treated on their own(WebMD, 2015). Not only do women suffer from painful sores, but they may also be infected with Hepatitis B caused by unsanitary tools such as glass, razor blades, or knives. According to the Mayo Clinic Staff, Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection caused by the Hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B increases your risk of developing liver failure or liver cancer which can cause permanent liver scarring or death (Mayo Clinic, 2014). FGM is a painful experience that can also cause long-term harm such as depression. Women and girls may not understand what is being done to them or why when FGM is performed. The effects of this painful experience are also similar to PTSD( Post- traumatic stress disorder), PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience of a life- threatening event (NIH,). Not only do women and girls suffer from infections and depression,
FGM alters the appearance and function of females genitals. Women and girl's are forced to partake in horrific operations. Three main types of cutting are Clitoridectomy, Excision, and Infibulation (WHO, 2014). Clitoridectomy is a partial or total removal of the clitoris, Excision is the partial or total removal of the clitoris and the libia minoria, and Infibulation is the narrowing of the vagina through the creation of a covering seal, the seal is formed by cutting the inner or outer libia with or without removal of the cliterios (WHO, 2014). ( UNFPA, 2015). According to the European Network this procedure can result in death due to severe bleeding, hemorrhagic shock, neurogenic shock as a result of pain and trauma. Not only is there a possibility of undergoing immediate complications, but long term complications as well. Long term complications can include, Urinary tract infection, infertility, and cyst (WHO, 2014). Procedures are carried out on girls who are not of age to decided whether or not to receive the operation ( Heitter, 2014). Female Genital Mutilation is performed on young girls between infancy and the age of 15. Damaris Monty and four other girls, at the age of 11 was forced to undergo FGM without anesthetic, who had no idea what the cutting meant ( Daily mail, 2015). Damaris was cut using crude tools and was told that "If she screamed it would bring shame to her entire family."