“How would you know if you were circumcised as a woman?”, my aunt asked me, “there is no way to know, what we were told is simply all that we know, and I have never questioned it, infact my mother in law asked me to bring my daughters for circumcision but I refused, I know that we no longer circumcise girls in this world”. This was a discussion that took place one evening when we discussed female reproductive health in the family.
An estimated 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone some form of female genital mutilation (FGM) – many before the age of 15. Despite being internationally recognized as a human rights violation, FGM persists for various reasons. No matter where or how it is performed, FGM causes extreme physical and psychological harm.
FGM has no health benefits and can lead to serious, long-term complications and even death. Immediate health risks include haemorrhage, shock, infection, HIV transmission, urine retention and severe pain.
Psychological impacts can range from a girl losing trust in her caregivers, to longer-term feelings of anxiety and depression.
In adulthood, girls subjected to FGM are more likely to suffer infertility or complications during childbirth, including postpartum haemorrhage, stillbirth and early neonatal death.
Lets raise our voices to ending FGM.
