Review: Female genital mutilation: A tragedy for women’sreproductive health

Abstract

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/FGC) constitutes a tragic health and human rights issue of girlsand women in a number of countries, mainly in Africa. The practice has serious health consequences,both physical and psychological. Attempts to eradicate the practice have not been successful over the pastfew decades. Medicalisation of the practice has added to its propagation, and this is not valid from ethicaland professional standpoints. Further efforts need to be exerted to eliminate the practice and alleviate thesufferings that millions of girls and women worldwide are unnecessarily subjected to. This article reviewsthe problem and discusses the consequences to health for women and girls, and suggests ways to eradicatethe practice.