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Circumcision in women
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Despite widespread condemnation of female circumcision, this practice persists in many countries, with the prevalence of female circumcision being less than 1 % to 99%.
Circumcision among women is practiced on all continents among various ethnic and religious groups, including Christians, Muslims, Jews and representatives of some indigenous (African) religions.
Throughout the world, there are at least 100 million women undergoing circumcision.
[Indications for circumcision in women
There are no medical indications for female circumcision. In many cultures, female circumcision is considered a ritual, after which a teenage girl is considered a woman. Female circumcision is considered as a procedure to prevent immoral behavior, giving the right to marry, making sexual intercourse more pleasurable for men and maintaining cleanliness. In fact, the operation symbolizes social control over sexual satisfaction (removal of the clitoris) and reproductive function (stitching the genital cleft) of a woman.
Technique of circumcision in women
There are the following types of circumcision in women:
- Traditional circumcision (circumcision) - Excision of the foreskin of the clitoris, but usually leads to the removal of the clitoris.
- Excision cutting (with excision) - Removal of the clitoris, foreskin of the clitoris and small labia.
- Circulation of pharaohs - Removal of the clitoris, small labia, cuts of the labia majora and suturing the entrance to the vestibule of the vagina. Can be divided into type III and type IV, depending on the size of the holes left.
Sunnah-circumcision (the Arabic word for "traditional") is the least crippling operation, in which only the flesh of the clitoris is removed. This procedure is considered an analog of male circumcision; However, it invariably leads to severe damage and / or amputation of the clitoris.
Circumcision in women is usually performed by people who do not have medical education, and, as a rule, without anesthesia and using non-sterile instruments. Hemostasis is carried out in a variety of ways, including rough suturing, wearing pressing clothing or applying excrement of cow or silt. To facilitate the healing of a girl sometimes bind her legs.
Complications of circumcision in women
Complications (early, late and in childbirth).
Early complications:
- Bleeding (0.5-2%)
- Shock (0-2%)
- Severe pain (> 90%)
- Acute urinary retention (0.7-10%)
- Injury of adjacent organs (urethra, anus)
- Infection (7-10%), including septicemia, tetanus, gangrene, abscess, ulceration.
Late complications:
- Formation of a keloid scar (14%)
- Implantation cysts (0-1.5%)
- Recurrent urinary tract infections (1-4%)
- Vaginal stones (rarely)
- Chronic inflammatory process in the pelvis (4-13%)
- Anxiety Disorders and Depression
- Dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia
- Infertility (?)
- Reduced sexual satisfaction
Obstetric complications:
- Elongation of the II stage of labor (14%)
- Increased frequency of postpartum haemorrhage (5-6%)
- Increased (40-100%) frequency of episiotomy, especially the anterior
- Increased risk of intrapartum fetal death
- Increased frequency of formation of recto-vaginal and urethravaginal fistulas