Female genital mutilation/cutting: will it continue?

INTRODUCTION: Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a prevalent, deeply rooted traditional practice in Egypt.

AIMS: Specification of the motives behind the continuation of FGM/C in Egyptian community and evaluation of the sexual function in women with FGM/C.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study, involved 2,106 sexually active female participants with FGM/C. Full history-taking and general examination to evaluate the type of FGM/C were conducted. Sexual function was assessed by using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Enumerate and specify the motivational factors and its percent among the participants. The correlation between FGM/C and FSFI domain scores was done with Pearson's correlation.

RESULTS: Tradition, cleanliness, and virginity were the most common motives empowering the continuation of FGM/C (100%), followed by men's wish, esthetic factors, marriage, and religion factors (45.2-100%). Type I FGM/C was the most common, followed by type II. There was only negative correlation between the type II FGM/C and sexual satisfaction. No statistically significant difference between type I and non-FGM/C was found.

CONCLUSIONS: FGM/C remains high. A variety of socio-cultural myths, religious misbelievers, and hygienic and esthetic concerns were behind the FGM/C. Overall, a large proportion of the participants supported the continuation of FGM/C in spite of adverse effect and sexual dysfunction associated with FGM/C.