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Procedures used for partial or complete removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons fall under the category of female genital mutilation (FGM), also known as female circumcision or female genital cutting. The procedures offer no health benefits and often lead to several complications. Traditional circumcisers perform these procedures, but more than 18% of these procedures are also performed by healthcare providers. The practice is illegal in most countries, but some communities still do it for many different reasons.
Although the practice of circumcising females is recognized internationally as a violation of rights of women, it is common in more than 27 African countries, as well as Yemen and Iraqi Kurdistan, and in Asian and the Middle East. Female circumcision before and after causes several changes in women and often create several health related issues as well. Keep reading to learn more about the issue.
There are different types of procedures used for female circumcision, such as clitoridectomy, excision, infibulations, and other.
There are several other procedures in practice as well, including piercing, pricking, scraping, incising, and cauterizing of the genital area. There will be vast difference when you look at female circumcision before and after images.
Warning: Please note that you're going to witness some graphic images ahead, though used only for educational purposes. The first picture shows anatomy of a grown female genital whilte the other pictures show the changes brought about by female circumcision.
There aren't any benefits associated with FGM; in fact, female circumcision before and after leads to several unwanted complications related to the natural bodily functions of girls and women.
The immediate effects include severe pain and bleeding. The girl could go into shock when no anesthetics are used during the procedures. Female circumcision may also lead to wound infections, including gangrene and tetanus as well as blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis B, HIV, and hepatitis C. Other immediate effects include inability to urinate, damage to nearby organs, including the bowel and the urethra, and injury to vulvar tissues. FGM can also cause death.
Even if the girl survives the initial trauma, she has to deal with several long-term consequences of female circumcision, such as abnormal periods, chronic pelvic infections, kidney impairment, and possible kidney failure. Some other issues include damage to the reproductive system that leads to infertility, pain during sex with no pleasurable sensation, formation of cysts and scar tissue, and flashbacks during childbirth or pregnancy. In some cases, it becomes important to perform another surgery to open the lower vagina for childbirth and sexual intercourse.
Some women also face psychological issues, including depression, low libido, and anxiety. FGM is an extremely difficult experience for girls and women and they carry the trauma throughout their lives. So many young women end up working with psychological counselors and often live with feelings of betrayal by parents. Even though FGM is illegal, many people still do it. Some parents take their children abroad for FGM, which is again illegal. If caught, the offenders have to face a large fine with jail time up to 14 years.
You can find several images of female circumcision before and after and understand the amount of pain women have to face during the procedures. The question is, "why do people opt for such gruesome procedures?" People in different societies have different reasons to practice FGM, but these 'excuses' fall into five main categories:
