Surrey and Borders Partnership the health the facts about facts more female genital mutilation information fgm Short term Long term complications complications of FGM of FGM If you are in doubt about matters related to FGM please contact the FGM national clinical • Haemorrhage • Diffi culty passing group – email: [email protected] • Shock urine • Acute urinary • Urinary tract We are a group of healthcare professionals retention infection committed to providing the best care to women • Damage to other • Diffi culties with who have undergone FGM and to stopping organs menstruation this practice in the UK. • Infection • Chronic pelvic • Failure to heal infection Useful websites • Death • Infertility • Vulval abcess/cyst/ www.fgmnationalgroup.org calculus www.rcm.org.uk • Neuroma www.who.int • Keloid scarring www.amnesty.org • Fistula www.fgmnetwork.org • Increased risk of www.forwarduk.org.uk perineal trauma www.equalitynow.org during delivery, www.dofeve.org postpartum Produced by University College haemorrghage and London Hospitals on behalf of perinatal death • Sexual, psychological and psychosexual diffi culties Women’s Health Division The term “Female Genital Mutilation” Clitoridectomy (also called female genital cutting) comprises fgm all procedures that involve partial or total Partial or total removal of the removal of the external female genitalia, type 1 or other injury to the female genital organs clitoris (a small, sensitive and for non medical reasons. erectile part of the female WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION 2008 genitals) and, rarely, the prepuce (the fold of skin surrounding the clitoris) as well. FGM is against Excision fgm the law Partial or total removal of the type 2 clitoris and the labia minora, The law says: with or without excision of the labia majora (the labia are “the It is an offence to excise, infi bulate or lips” that surround the vagina). otherwise mutilate the whole or any part of the labia majora, labia minora or clitoris of another person for non medical reasons, or to aid, abet council or procure any of those acts on that person’s own body. It is also illegal to take a child out of the UK for that Infi bulation purpose or to arrange it. The penalty is up to 14 years’ imprisonment. fgm Narrowing of the vaginal opening type 3 through the creation of a covering THE FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION ACT 2003 seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the inner, and It is the role of midwives and obstetricians to understand the circumstances that can lead sometimes outer, labia, with or to actual and threatened cases of FGM. without removal of the clitoris. This resource will help you to: • Provide appropriate and sensitive clinical Procedures include: care during pregnancy and delivery. Other • “Angurya Cuts” where • Identify and safeguard babies and other skin is scraped from children in the family who may be at risk fgm around the vagina of FGM All other harmful procedures • “Gishiri Cuts” where deep posterior cuts are type 4 to the female genitalia for non- made to the vaginal medical purposes, eg. pricking, entrance • Instillation of caustic piercing, incising, scraping and substances such as potassium permanganate, cauterizing the genital area bleach and caustic herbs to damage and narrow the vaginal entrance.