also see:
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- Female Genital Mutilation (Clinical Practice Guideline)
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World Health Organisation definition
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Female Genital Mutilation : "all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural or other non-therapeutic reasons".
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Prevalence of the practice
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- Estimated 130 million women and girls affected worldwide.
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- Reported in many countries including 29 African countries, Malaysia, Yemen, and Indonesia.
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Reasons for the practice
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- Tradition, cultural identity, hygiene, protection of virginity, marriageability, husband's sexual pleasure, aesthetics/purity, sense of belonging to a group.
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- Not required by any religion although some people believe it to be of religious importance.
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Types of Female Genital Mutilation
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- Type I: Excision of the prepuce, with or without excision of part or all of the clitoris
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- Type II: Excision of the clitoris with partial or total excision of the labia minora
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- Type III: Excision of part or all of the external genitalia and stitching/narrowing of the vaginal opening (Infibulation)
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- Type IV: Unclassified: includes: Pricking, piercing or incising of the clitoris and/or labia; stretching of the clitoris and/or labia; cauterisation by burning of the clitoris and surrounding tissue; scraping of tissue surrounding the vaginal orifice or cutting of the vagina; introduction of corrosive substances or herbs into the vagina to cause bleeding or for the purposes of tightening or narrowing it; any of the procedure which falls under the definition of female genital mutilation given above.
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Health consequences
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The health consequences principally depends on the type of FGM / cutting and methods used
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Short Term
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Long Term
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- surgery required to achieve intercourse
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