Reading note
This article discusses a harmful practice affecting children and adults. It uses clinical, non-graphic language and does not reproduce accounts of abuse. Medical questions or concerns should be discussed with a qualified health professional.
Female genital mutilation or cutting refers to procedures that intentionally alter or injure the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It is most often carried out during childhood or adolescence, frequently without the person's informed consent. International health agencies regard all forms as harmful and as a violation of bodily autonomy.
The practice is found mainly in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, as well as among some diaspora communities elsewhere. Its presence in a country or community should not be treated as evidence that an entire religion or ethnic group supports it.
A cultural practice, not a requirement of one religion
FGM/C predates Islam and is also found in communities that are Christian, follow Indigenous or traditional religions, or are not identified with a major religion. In some settings, local religious leaders reinforce the practice; in others, religious leaders actively oppose it. Families may describe it as a condition of social belonging, respectability, marriageability or conformity.
Reducing FGM/C to a single religious explanation can stigmatize whole communities and obscure the social pressures that maintain it. A more accurate account examines local history, family expectations, gender norms, economic conditions, law and access to education. Muslim communities are diverse: many Muslim scholars and organizations state that the practice is not required by Islam.
Forms of FGM/C
The World Health Organization groups FGM/C into four broad categories. The categories describe the physical alteration, not a community's religious identity. This summary is intentionally non-graphic.
Type 1
Partial or total removal of the clitoral glans and/or the surrounding fold of skin.
Type 2
Removal of the clitoral glans and inner labial tissue, with or without alteration of the outer labia.
Type 3
Narrowing of the vaginal opening through alteration and closure of surrounding tissue. This form can require later medical care.
Type 4 covers other non-medical injuries, such as pricking, piercing, cutting, scraping or cauterization. The severity and health effects vary, but no form is medically necessary.
Health and human-rights concerns
Immediate complications may include severe pain, bleeding, infection, shock and difficulty urinating. Long-term effects can include recurring pain or infections, menstrual and urinary difficulties, complications during childbirth, sexual-health concerns and psychological distress. Risks depend on the procedure, the conditions in which it occurred and the person's access to appropriate care.
Survivors should be treated with dignity and should not be blamed for what happened to them. Trauma-informed services can address physical health, reproductive care, mental health and safeguarding needs without assuming that every survivor has the same experience.
For anyone seeking help
If you or someone you know may be at immediate risk, contact local emergency or safeguarding services. A qualified clinician can provide confidential care and explain available options. Do not attempt to examine or treat an injury without professional guidance.
Where it is practiced
Prevalence differs greatly between and within countries. Higher rates have been documented in parts of the Horn of Africa, West Africa, North Africa and some communities in the Middle East and Asia. National averages can hide substantial differences by region, age, income, education and ethnic group.
Migration has also made FGM/C a safeguarding and healthcare issue in Europe, North America and other regions. The presence of a diaspora community does not mean that the practice is widespread there. Reliable, current prevalence information should come from national statistical agencies and international public-health organizations rather than old generalizations.
Prevention and change
Effective prevention combines child protection, accessible healthcare, education, legal safeguards and community-led dialogue. Programs are more likely to succeed when they work with survivors, parents, teachers, health professionals, faith leaders and local organizations rather than treating communities as passive subjects.
Changing social expectations is important. Families may continue the practice because they fear exclusion or believe that other families will continue it. Public commitments, accurate information and trusted local leadership can help communities coordinate a move away from FGM/C while protecting girls from punishment or blame.
Using evidence responsibly
Statistics and legal information change over time. Readers should check current material from the World Health Organization, UNICEF, national health authorities and established survivor-led organizations. Older reports can remain useful for historical context but should not be presented as current prevalence data.
This page is an educational rewrite of an archived discussion. It intentionally omits outdated estimates, commercial material, unverifiable quotations and graphic descriptions. It does not provide medical, legal or safeguarding advice.