Reasons for and Experiences With Surgical Interventions for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C): A Systematic Review (2017)
This study is a Exploratory research regarding All FGM/C with the following characteristics:
Author(s): Berg,R. C.,Taraldsen,S.,Said,M. A.,Sørbye,I. K.,& Vangen,S.
FGM/C Type(s): All
Health area of focus: None.
Objective: The study aimed to conduct a systematic review of empirical quantitative and qualitative research on interventions for women with FGM/C-related complications.
Study Population: Women and girls
Findings: The study identified three distinct surgical interventions: defibulation or surgical separation of fused labia,excision of a cyst with or without reconstruction,and clitoral or clitoral-labial reconstruction. The reasons for requesting surgical procedures included functional problems,sexual desires,cosmetic desires,and identity restoration. The most prevalent motives for defibulation were the desire for enhanced sexual pleasure,vaginal aesthetics,and vaginal function. The primary purpose for cyst excision was cystic swelling,whereas the primary motive for reconstruction was to reestablish identity. The authors observed that after defibulation,women reported easier deliveries. However,data on women’s experiences with surgical interventions are scarce. The data also indicated that the majority of women were satisfied with defibulation (overall satisfaction ¼ 50e100%),primarily due to enhancements in their sexual life. In contrast,the data revealed that societal acceptance of defibulation was low and that the treatment caused grief in some women who despised the new appearance of their genitalia. The majority of women were pleased with clitoral reconstruction,although around one-third were unsatisfied or felt an aesthetic decline. The information provided by health care professionals to women seeking surgical procedures for FGM/C should clarify the different intervention options and what women can expect from such interventions.
Geographical coverage
Region(s):Western Africa,Western Europe,Eastern Africa,Southern Europe,Northern Europe,Western Asia,Australia and New Zealand,Northern Africa,North America,Southeastern Asia
Country(ies):Australia,Burkina Faso,Djibouti,Egypt,United Kingdom,Ethiopia,France,Germany,Italy,Malaysia,Netherlands,Nigeria,Saudi Arabia,Senegal,Somalia,Spain,Sudan,Switzerland,United Arab Emirates,United States