Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a crime in this country. It is also a crime to take a British national or permanent resident abroad for FGM or to help someone trying to do this. Girls may be taken to their countries of origin so that FGM can be carried out during the summer holidays, allowing them time to ‘heal’ before they return to school. There are also worries that some girls may have FGM performed in the UK.
There are no health benefits to FGM. Removing and damaging healthy and normal female genital tissue interferes with the natural functions of girls' and women's bodies.
FGM procedures can cause:
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Severe bleeding.
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Infections.
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Problems with giving birth later in life - including the death of the baby.
FGM increases the risk of the vagina tearing during delivery, which causes damage and can lead to heavy bleeding. It can also increase the risk of the baby becoming distressed or dying during, or just after birth.
It may be difficult for women to talk about the issue, but it is important to tell someone that this has happened to you, or that you think it may happen to yourself or someone you know. If you are pregnant and have suffered FGM it is important to attend your antenatal classes and discuss this with your midwife. Surgery can be performed to open up the lower vagina. This is sometimes called ‘reversal’, although it cannot restore sensitive tissue that has been removed.