FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
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Most of the places in Africa practice FGM(Female Genital Mutilation), this is the part of their so called "good tradition" some other reasons include religious requirements, rite passage to womanhood, cleanliness, prevention of promiscuity among girls, preservation of virginity, better marriage prospects, prevention of excessive clitoral growth and many more. Most of the girls will undergo FGM when they reach the age of 5 to 10 years old, some parents wants their daughter to undergo FGM at their early age because they want to reduce the trauma to their children.
There are four ways to perform FGM
1. Excision of the clitoral hood with or without removal of part of all of the clitoris.
2.Removal of the clitoris together with part or all of the labia.
3. (Infibulation)
Removal of part or all of the external genitalia (clitoris, labia minora, and labia majora) and stitching or narrowing of the vaginal opening leaving a small hole for urine and menstrual flow.
4. All other operation on the female genitalia including pricking, piercing, stretching or incision of the clitoris and labia. Cauterization by burning the clitoris and sorrounding tissues , incision to the vaginal wall , scraping or cutting of the vagina and sorrounding tissues, and introduction of corossive substance of herbs into the vagina.
To think that the child needs to undergo FGM it's an intense pain! It can cause hemorrhage that can lead to shock during and after the procedure. There is also complications, like abnormal menstruation, Urinary tract infection, abscesses, dermoid cysts, and keloid scars. FGM is likely to increase the risk of HIV because of the unsterilized instruments used by several girls, the chance of spreading HIV or some communicable disease. And also after FGM the child who develops uncontrolled bleeding or infection may die within hours.
But even if it can lead to severe pain and can cause death, after all it is still the part of their culture, because for them the woman who did not undergone FGM considered as dirty woman and not respectable.
