Health risks of FGM.

 


FGM has no health benefits, and the removal of or damage to healthy genital tissue interferes with the natural functioning of the body and may lead to several immediate and long-term health consequences. Despite strong evidence on the increased risk of adverse health outcomes associated with FGM, health workers in many settings do not receive adequate training to properly identify and manage complications of FGM. Recent systematic reviews and meta-analysis found statistically significant associations between different types of FGM and a range of health complications, with more severe forms of FGM being associated with greater risks. The health complications associated with various forms of FGM include an increased risk for the following obstetric complications: prolonged/obstructed labour, obstetric tears, caesarean birth, postpartum haemorrhage, episiotomy, fetal distress, extended maternal hospital stay, neonatal asphyxia and stillbirth/ neonatal death. Several gynaecological complications are also associated with FGM: genital tissue damage, genitourinary tract infections and menstrual difficulties. Additional health consequences associated with FGM may include urological complications (urinary tract infections and difficulty urinating), sexual complications (dyspareunia and sexual dysfunction) and mental health disorders (anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] and somatoform disorders). The evidence from systematic reviews also indicates that a large proportion of girls experience immediate harms following FGM, such as excessive bleeding, difficulty urinating, infection and problems with wound healing. The studies informing these reviews and meta-analyses do not necessarily adequately control for confounding and are mostly observational, but the health risks identified in the reviews serve as a basis for ensuring guidance is targeted to the prevention and management of the identified health consequences. In addition to these health risks, a number of health procedures may be hindered due to anatomical changes brought about by FGM, including routine gynaecological examinations, cervical cancer screening, post-abortion care (e.g. evacuation and curettage procedures) and intrauterine device placement, especially in the case of Type III FGM.

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