What is FGM?

FGM is the practice of the removal of all or parts of the external female genitalia. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the practice of FGM into one of three major categories: clitoridectomy, excision, and infibulations. A clitoridectomy is the partial or total removal of the clitoris and the least invasive. An excision is the partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora. The most invasive is infibulation, which is the removal of the clitoris, labia minora, and stitching together of the labia majora. Infibulation leaves a tiny opening in the vagina so that urine and menstrual fluid can pass through. This procedure requires binding together the legs until the stitches hold. Another category holds all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, for example, pricking, piercing, and/or incising of the clitoris and/or labia. Scraping the tissue around the vaginal opening or cutting the vagina is another type of procedure. An additional procedure is cauterizing the vagina, and this involves the burning of the clitoris and the surrounding tissues. Lastly, in order to cause the vagina to bleed, the midwife inserts corrosive substances or she inserts herbs into the vagina with the goal of tightening or narrowing the vagina (4).