10 Facts About Female Genital Mutilation That Will Horrify You

What FGM/C Is (and What It Isn’t)

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) refers to procedures that intentionally alter or injure
female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It’s sometimes mislabeled as “female circumcision,”
but that softer phrasing can hide the reality: this is not a medically necessary procedure, and it can cause
serious harm.

FGM/C is practiced in multiple countries and communities for complex social reasonstradition, perceived purity,
marriageability, social pressure, myths about hygiene, and controlling sexuality. None of those reasons make it
medically safe, ethically acceptable, or “just a cultural thing.” Culture can explain behavior; it can’t excuse
injury.

Fact #1: The Numbers Are Staggeringand Still Rising

If you’ve ever heard “It’s a rare practice,” here’s the problem: it’s not. Global estimates are now commonly
reported at over 230 million girls and women living with FGM/Can increase from earlier estimates
(not necessarily because the practice suddenly exploded everywhere, but because population growth and updated data
changed the count).

This is one of those awful moments where the math feels like a horror movie: even when the percentage
goes down in some places, the number can still rise because there are more people in the population.
Progress existsbut it’s being chased by a faster treadmill.

Specific example

Recent reporting based on UNICEF data describes more girls being cut at younger ages in some settings, shrinking
the window for prevention. It’s a grim reminder that “we’re working on it” and “it’s solved” are not the same
sentence.

Fact #2: It’s Often Done to Very Young Girls

FGM/C is frequently performed on minorsoften between infancy and age 15. In some communities, it’s increasingly
done in early childhood, sometimes before a girl is old enough to understand what’s happening, let alone consent.

If you’re thinking, “But surely someone would stop this,” that’s part of the tragedy: the practice can be
organized by family members and reinforced by social pressure. It can happen quietly, during visits, ceremonies,
or periods that lookon the outsidelike normal family life.

The age factor matters medically too. Children’s bodies are more vulnerable to injury, infection, and complications.
And psychologically, trauma imprinted early can echo for decades.

Fact #3: There Are Multiple TypesSome Involve Sewing Tissue Closed

One reason the public underestimates FGM/C is that people imagine one uniform practice. It’s not uniform. Health
agencies typically describe four major types, ranging from cutting or removing tissue to
infibulation, where the vaginal opening is narrowed by creating a sealoften by cutting and
repositioning the labia.

And here’s the part that should stop you in your tracks: even “less extensive” forms can cause lasting harm,
and the most severe forms can create significant medical complications, including problems with urination,
menstruation, sexual health, and childbirth.

Reality check

Some discussions try to categorize types as if they’re menu options with “milder” labels. That framing is
misleading. All forms involve non-medical injury. “Less severe” is not the same as “safe.”

Fact #4: It Has No Health BenefitsOnly Risks

Medical organizations and U.S. public health sources are blunt about this: FGM/C provides no health
benefits. What it does provide is a long list of potential complicationssome immediate, some delayed.

Immediate risks (the “right away” damage)

• Severe pain
• Excessive bleeding
• Infection
• Shock and acute trauma responses

Why this matters

When a practice has no medical benefit, the ethical bar is not “can we reduce harm a little,” it’s “why is this
happening at all?” If you wouldn’t accept a non-consensual injury to any other body part, the genitals don’t
deserve a loophole.

Fact #5: The Harm Doesn’t End After “It’s Over”

A lot of people imagine FGM/C as a single event with a single recovery. Survivors and clinicians describe
something different: the consequences can become a recurring theme across a person’s lifeduring puberty,
relationships, pregnancy, medical visits, and aging.

Long-term health effects can include

• Chronic pain
• Recurrent infections and complications with urination
• Menstrual difficulties
• Sexual pain or dysfunction
• Mental health impacts such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD symptoms

The body keeps receipts. And unfortunately, so does the mind.

Fact #6: It Can Make Pregnancy and Childbirth More Dangerous

Multiple clinical reviews and public health summaries link FGM/C to increased obstetric complications, especially
with more extensive forms. That can mean more difficult labor, higher risk of tearing, increased need for certain
medical interventions, and higher risk of postpartum complications.

Even in excellent hospitals, a history of FGM/C can complicate care if providers are unfamiliar with it or if
the patient is afraid to disclose it. And in settings with limited access to quality maternal care, risks can
become much more severe.

A practical takeaway

The safest pregnancies happen when clinicians are trained, patients are respected, and care is trauma-informed.
FGM/C works against all threeunless a healthcare system intentionally counters it.

Fact #7: It’s Not Required by Religion (Despite How It’s Sometimes Sold)

One of the most persistent myths is that FGM/C is mandated by religion. Public health and policy statements in the
U.S. consistently emphasize that the practice is rooted in social norms and cultural traditions, not a universal
religious requirement.

Here’s the frustrating (and sadly effective) pattern: when a harmful practice is questioned, it’s sometimes wrapped
in “sacred” language to shut down debate. But survivors, advocates, and many religious leaders have pushed back,
pointing out that harm to children does not become holy because someone says it is.

If you want an easy test: anything that needs coercion to survive is not a spiritual virtueit’s social control.

Fact #8: It’s Illegal in the U.S.Including Helping or Taking a Minor to Be Cut

In the United States, federal law prohibits performing FGM/C on a person under 18. Importantly, the law also
covers attempts, conspiracy, facilitating/consenting as a parent or caretaker, and transporting a minor
for the purpose of FGM/C. In plain language: “I didn’t do the cutting myself” isn’t the shield some
people think it is.

Many states also have their own laws against FGM/C. Legal approaches vary, but the direction is consistent:
it’s treated as child abuse and gender-based violence, not a “family matter.”

Why this matters

Laws alone don’t end a practice, but they do three essential things:

• They clearly label the act as harm, not tradition.
• They create tools for intervention and prosecution.
• They can empower families who feel pressured to say “no” by giving them legal backing.

Fact #9: It Exists in the U.S. (Yes, Really)

This is the part that often surprises Americans: FGM/C is not only an “over there” issue. U.S. public health
agencies have estimated that hundreds of thousands of girls and women in the U.S. may have
experienced FGM/C or be at riskdriven largely by migration from countries where the practice is more common,
plus the reality that traditions can persist in diaspora communities.

That does not mean immigrant communities are “the problem.” Many people from FGM/C-practicing countries
actively oppose it, and community-led prevention has been one of the most effective forces for change. The real
problem is the practice itselfand the silence that can surround it.

Specific example

U.S. public health efforts have included research on women’s health needs and attitudes toward ending FGM/C in
select U.S. communities, highlighting both significant health needs and strong support for stopping the practice.

Fact #10: Survivors Often Face Barriers to CareEven Here

You might assume that once someone reaches a country with advanced healthcare, the worst is behind them. But U.S.
research and clinical guidance describe common barriers:

• Provider knowledge gaps: Many clinicians have limited training on FGM/C.
• Fear and stigma: Patients may avoid care to dodge judgment, invasive questions, or shame.
• Communication barriers: Language differences and lack of culturally competent care can reduce trust.
• Trauma triggers: Routine exams can be psychologically difficult without trauma-informed approaches.

The result is a cruel irony: survivors may live near excellent hospitals and still struggle to access safe, respectful,
informed care. This is why training and community partnerships matter so much.

Experiences: What This Looks Like in Real Life

The facts matter, but facts can feel like numbers floating in space. So here are experience-based snapshotsdrawn
from commonly described survivor and clinician themes in U.S. reporting and healthcare discussionswritten with
anonymity and respect. No graphic detail, just the human reality.

1) The “normal appointment” that isn’t normal

A woman schedules what she expects will be a routine gynecology visit. The paperwork asks about surgeries, pain,
pregnancy history. She hesitates. In her mind, there’s a fork in the road: disclose and risk humiliationor stay
silent and risk inadequate care. She chooses silence. The clinician is competent but unprepared; their surprise
lands like an accusation. Nobody says anything overtly cruel, but the room shifts. The patient leaves feeling
exposed, misunderstood, and less likely to return.

2) The quiet pressure inside families

A mother who grew up with FGM/C moves to the U.S. and decides her daughter will not be cut. That should be the end
of the story. Instead, the pressure arrives by phone call, family visit, “friendly” reminders, and warnings about
shame or marriage prospects. The mother is told she’s forgetting where she came from. She’s accused of raising a
child who will be “different,” “undisciplined,” “unsafe.” The mother’s refusal becomes a daily act of courage
not because she doubts the harm, but because standing up to a whole community is emotionally expensive.

3) The clinician who realizes training isn’t optional

A family physician meets a patient who mentions FGM/C in passing, almost like it’s weather: “Yes, that happened.”
The physician realizes their medical education skimmed the topic, if it covered it at all. They do what good
clinicians do: learn fast. They seek guidance, consult specialists when appropriate, and adjust their approach:
more consent checks, more explanation, more control in the patient’s hands. The physician also notices something
uncomfortablehow quickly “curiosity” can slide into “spectacle.” So they set a new rule for themselves: the
patient’s dignity is the priority, always.

4) The survivor who becomes the expert (because no one else will)

A survivor finds herself teaching people what FGM/C isfriends, coworkers, sometimes even healthcare staff. She
didn’t apply for this job. She’d rather be known for her laugh, her work, her love of spicy food, anything else.
But she also knows that silence is a vacuum where myths thrive. So she explains, corrects misinformation, and
advocates for better care. Over time, she builds community, connects others to resources, and turns a history of
harm into prevention. It’s not a “silver lining.” It’s resilience under protest.

5) The prevention conversation that actually works

A community group partners with local health educators. They don’t show up with a megaphone and moral superiority.
They show up with listening. They talk about health consequences, legal realities, andmost importantlyalternatives:
how communities can honor tradition and identity without harming girls. In some rooms, older women speak first,
quietly admitting regret. In others, young people ask hard questions. Progress doesn’t look like a movie montage.
It looks like repeated conversations, trust built slowly, and a shared shift toward protecting children.

If there’s one theme across these experiences, it’s this: ending FGM/C isn’t just about condemning a practice.
It’s about building systemslegal, medical, educational, and community-basedthat make protection easier than harm.

Quick FAQ

Is FGM/C the same as female genital cosmetic surgery?

They are not the same category. FGM/C refers to non-medical injury often performed on minors under social pressure.
Cosmetic genital procedures (controversial as some may be) are generally framed around adult consent in medical settings.
That said, many professional medical organizations stress ethical concerns around non-medically indicated genital procedures,
especially when marketing and informed consent are unclear.

What should I do if I suspect a child is at risk?

In the U.S., concerns about a minor’s safety should be addressed through appropriate safeguarding channels, which can
include child protective services or law enforcement in urgent situations. If you’re a clinician, follow your mandated
reporting rules and institutional protocols.

What helps survivors most?

Trauma-informed care, culturally competent healthcare, patient control during exams, access to appropriate specialists,
and community support networks can make a major differencealong with simple respect. People are not their trauma.

Conclusion

FGM/C is horrifying not because it’s “exotic” or distant, but because it’s a reminder of what happens when
social pressure is given more authority than a child’s body. The good newsyes, there is someis that prevention
works when communities lead, when laws are enforced thoughtfully, and when healthcare systems treat survivors with
competence and dignity.

If you’re writing, educating, or advocating on this topic, aim your outrage carefully: at the practice, at the myths,
and at the systems that let it hidenot at the people who survived it.

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