Question 1

What is female circumcision?

Accepted Answer

The World Health Organization (WHO) groups under the term female genital mutilation/female circumcision all the practices which result in the total or partial removal of the female external genitalia and any other lesion of the female genitalia performed for non-medical reasons.

Question 2

Female circumcision or female genital mutilation (FGM)?

Accepted Answer

The expression female genital mutilation is the one most used internationally, among others by the WHO. On the other hand, many women concerned refuse this expression, because they feel stigmatized by this very strong term of “mutilated woman”. The term female circumcision is more neutral.

Types of female circumcision
The WHO distinguishes four types of female circumcision:

Type I:
Removal of the external glans of the clitoris and/or its hood.

Type II: 
Removal of the external glans of the clitoris and the labia minora with or without removal of the labia majora.

Type III (infibulation):
Narrowing of the vaginal orifice with recovery by removal and joining of the labia minora and/or labia majora, with or without removal of the external glans of the clitoris.

Type IV:
All other harmful interventions on the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, for example, pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genitalia.

Question 3

After a female circumcision, does part of the clitoris remain?

Accepted Answer

Yes! The clitoral glans is a large glans that is largely internal. The removed portion is that which is usually external and visible, but most of the glans remains intact. It is still possible for a circumcised woman to have feelings of sexual pleasure and to achieve orgasm.

Question 4

What care and services are offered by the Sensolia Foundation?

Accepted Answer

• Psychological care

Individual support
Group therapy (talking circle for circumcised women)
Family Therapy

• Medical care 
Gynecology
Sexual Medicine

• Surgical care 
Deinfibulation
Management of complications following a female circumcision (neuroma, cyst, keloid)
Re-exposure of the clitoris

• Medico-psycho-legal expertise for applications for refugee status in the event of a risk of female circumcision

Learn more
about female circumcision

Sensolia Foundation

An interdisciplinary care
clinic for girls & women

Frequently asked questions

What is female circumcision?

Female circumcision or female genital mutilation (FGM)?

After a female circumcision, does part of the clitoris remain?

What care and services are offered by the Sensolia Foundation?

No events at the moment

Learn more about female circumcision

Sensolia Foundation

An interdisciplinary care clinic for girls & women

Frequently asked questions

What is female circumcision?

Female circumcision or female genital mutilation (FGM)?

After a female circumcision, does part of the clitoris remain?

What care and services are offered by the Sensolia Foundation?

No events at the moment

Learn more
about female circumcision

An interdisciplinary care
clinic for girls & women