Nelson Manneh

Story: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a human rights violation with severe, demonstrable, and lifelong health consequences for girls and women. The claim that FGM is harmless is false. Major health organizations confirm that the practice offers no health benefits and causes only harm. The health implications of FGM include: The procedure, often performed without anesthesia in unsanitary conditions, can cause severe pain, excessive bleeding, infection, shock, and, in some cases, death. The formation of scar tissue and trapped nerves can lead to constant pain that can persist for a lifetime. The narrowing of the vaginal opening, a procedure known as infibulation, can cause painful urination and repeated urinary tract infections. It can also obstruct the flow of menstrual blood, leading to infections and painful periods. Besides immediate infections from the procedure, FGM can lead to chronic infections of the genital and reproductive tracts, as well as cysts and abscesses. Damage to the genital tissue, particularly the clitoris, can result in decreased sexual desire and pleasure, pain during intercourse, and difficulty with penetration. For women who become pregnant, FGM can cause a host of serious issues, including prolonged labor, excessive bleeding during and after birth, a higher risk of C-sections, stillbirth, and newborn death. The traumatic experience of undergoing FGM can have severe and lasting psychological effects. These may include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. More than 230 million girls and women alive today have been subjected to FGM. This number has increased in recent years due to rapid population growth in countries where the practice is common. FGM is most often performed on young girls between infancy and age 15. While the overall prevalence has declined in some countries over the last three decades, progress is not uniform and in many places is not keeping pace with population growth. The annual cost of treating the health complications from FGM is estimated to be over US$1.4 billion per year.

Published in: October 26, 2025