FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It’s also known as female circumcision or cutting.

FGM is often performed by someone with no medical training. They can use instruments such as a knife, scalpel, scissors, glass or razor blade.

The age at which FGM is carried out varies. It may take place:

• • When a female baby is newborn,
  • During childhood or adolescence,
  • Just before marriage,
  • During pregnancy.

There are four main types of FGM:

1. 1. (clitoridectomy): removing part or all of the clitoris.
   2. (excision): removing part or all of the clitoris and cutting the inner and/or outer labia.
   3. (infibulation): narrowing the vaginal opening.
   4. other harmful procedures to the female genitals including pricking, piercing, cutting, scraping or burning (NHS Choices, 2016).