Female genital mutilation (FGM), a practice long condemned globally, has now been conclusively linked to a wide array of serious, long-term health complications, both physical and psychological.
A new comprehensive review of 78 studies conducted across nearly 30 countries and involving close to half a million women has provided the most extensive evidence yet of the medical harm suffered by women and girls subjected to FGM. The analysis revealed that FGM significantly increases the risk of complications in six critical health areas: obstetric, gynaecological, urological, sexual, mental health, and immediate post-procedure effects.
Women who have undergone FGM are more than twice as likely to experience prolonged or obstructed labour, excessive bleeding during childbirth, and require emergency caesarean sections or forceps deliveries. Their babies are at a heightened risk of foetal distress, asphyxia, and stillbirth. The evidence clearly shows that FGM greatly heightens maternal and neonatal health risks, particularly during childbirth.
Beyond childbirth, the long-term impacts are equally alarming. Women report chronic menstrual irregularities, frequent urinary tract infections, genital tissue damage, and pain during sexual intercourse. Many survivors also face difficulties urinating and persistent pelvic pain, as the procedure disrupts normal urinary and reproductive function.
Perhaps even more concerning is the psychological toll. The study found that women with FGM are nearly three times more likely to experience depression or anxiety, and over four times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The emotional trauma is profound and often goes unspoken due to societal taboos, leaving many survivors to suffer in silence.
An emerging trend that compounds the problem is the increasing “medicalisation” of FGM. In some regions, healthcare workers are performing the procedure under the misguided belief that it is safer. However, medicalised FGM can result in deeper cuts and more severe long-term effects. The practice, regardless of who performs it, remains a violation of bodily integrity and provides no health benefits.
Despite international advocacy and legal bans, FGM continues to affect an estimated 230 million women and girls worldwide. Although there has been a decline in prevalence among younger age groups in some regions, population growth in high-prevalence areas may offset this progress.
FGM remains deeply rooted in cultural beliefs, including notions of purity, marriageability, and religious obligations. In many communities, girls who are not subjected to it face stigma and exclusion.
The findings emphasize the urgent need for both prevention and survivor support. Health systems must respond by offering physical and psychological care, promoting community awareness, and working to change harmful norms. Ending FGM is not just a health imperative it is a step toward gender equality and human dignity.
