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.

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.

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.

Legended structural diagram of the clitoris - Marnanel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

• 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