Female Genital Mutilation

Women's health

Factsheet

Key Facts

• Female genital mutilation (FGM) includes procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
• The procedure has no health benefits for girls and women.
• Procedures can cause severe bleeding and problems urinating, and later cysts, infections, as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths.
• More than 200 million girls and women alive today have been cut in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where FGM is concentrated¹.
• FGM is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15.
• FGM is a violation of the human rights of girls and women.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

The practice is mostly carried out by traditional circumcisers, who often play other central roles in communities, such as attending childbirths. In many settings, health care providers perform FGM due to the erroneous belief that the procedure is safer when medicalized¹. WHO strongly urges health professionals not to perform such procedures.

FGM is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women. It is nearly always carried out on minors and is a violation of the rights of children. The practice also violates a person's rights to health, security and physical integrity, the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and the right to life when the procedure results in death.

Female genital mutilation comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. Female genital mutilation of any type has been recognized as a harmful practise and is a violation of human rights. It has no health benefits and harms girls and women in many ways.

There are four classifications of female genital mutilation. Types I, II and III have been documented in 28 countries in Africa. Approximately 85% of women experience Types I and II.

Long-term consequences can include chronic pain, infections, decreased sexual enjoyment, infertility and psychological consequences, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. It also significantly increases the risks of adverse childbirth complications such as low birth weight, still birth, caesarean section and post-partum haemorrhage. It is estimated that an additional 1 to 2 babies per 100 deliveries die as a result of female genital mutilation.

The most recent prevalence data indicates 91.5 million girls and women are currently living with the consequences of female genital mutilation and an additional 3 million girls are at risk every year.