Why is fgm carried out

Although there are no hygienic advantages or health benefits to FGM, practising communities believe that women's vaginas need to be cut - and women who have not undergone FGM are regarded as unhealthy, unclean or unworthy.

Often it's performed against their will, and health professionals worldwide consider it a form of violence against women and a violation of their human rights. When FGM is inflicted on children, it is also seen as a form of child abuse. Many of the women surveyed by Unicef and the WHO said it was taboo to even discuss FGM in their communities for fear of attracting criticism from outsiders, or - in those places where FGM is illegal - for fear it would lead to prosecution of family or community members.

The above map was put together by The Woman Stats Project, who have collated research on the issue, including data from the UN and Unicef. According to a Unicef report carried out in 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East, the practice is still being widely carried out, despite the fact that 24 of these countries have legislation or some form of decrees against FGM. In countries such as the UK, where FGM is illegal, expert and barrister Dr Charlotte Proudman says it is increasingly being performed on babies and infants.

Therefore it is "almost impossible to detect" as the girls are not in school or old enough to report it. Recently a mother in London became the first person in the UK to be found guilty of carrying out FGM on her three-year-old daughter.

She will be sentenced on 8 March. Image source, Getty Images. This woman in Mombasa, Kenya shows the razorblade she has used on girls' genitals. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

She is now an anti FGM campaigner. What is Female Genital Mutilation? Unicef estimates more than million girls and women have suffered FGM in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, but also within migrant communities where FGM is common - in Spain, 18, girls are considered to be at risk. Bishara became an anti FGM campaigner after struggling to cope with her mutilation. There are four types of FGM. Why does it happen? FGM is often performed by traditional circumcisers or cutters who do not have any medical training.

But in some countries it may be done by a medical professional. Anaesthetics and antiseptics are not generally used, and FGM is often carried out using knives, scissors, scalpels, pieces of glass or razor blades. FGM often happens against a girl's will without her consent, and girls may have to be forcibly restrained.

FGM can make it difficult and painful to have sex. It can also result in reduced sexual desire and a lack of pleasurable sensation. Talk to your GP or another healthcare professional if you have sexual problems that you feel may be caused by FGM, as they can refer you to a special therapist who can help.

In some cases, a surgical procedure called a deinfibulation may be recommended, which can alleviate and improve some symptoms. Some women with FGM may find it difficult to become pregnant, and those who do conceive can have problems in childbirth. If you're expecting a baby, your midwife should ask you if you have had FGM at your antenatal appointment.

It's important to tell your midwife if you think this has happened to you so they can arrange appropriate care for you and you baby. FGM can be an extremely traumatic experience that can cause emotional difficulties throughout life, including;. In some cases, women may not remember having the FGM at all, especially if it was performed when they were an infant. Talk to a GP or another healthcare professional if you're experiencing emotional or mental health problems that may be a result of FGM.

Help and support is available. It's sometimes known as a reversal, although this name is misleading as the procedure does not replace any removed tissue and will not undo the damage caused. It can be done in pregnancy or labour if necessary, but ideally should be done before the last 2 months of pregnancy. The surgery involves making a cut incision to open the scar tissue over the entrance to the vagina.

It's usually performed under local anaesthetic in a clinic and you will not normally need to stay overnight. A small number of women need either a general anaesthetic or an injection in the back epidural , which may involve a short stay in hospital.

Furthermore, circumcision rites were also performed in the tropical zones of Africa, in the Philippines and by certain tribes in the Upper Amazon area. Click here to join our channel ieexplained and stay updated with the latest. Depending on the region, there can be various reasons why FGM is performed. It also states that the issue first rose to prominence in India because of two international legal cases on FGM against practising Bohras in Australia and the US.

The Dawoodi Bohra community, on the other hand, maintained that the practice should be allowed since the Constitution grants religious freedom under Article Click here to join our channel indianexpress and stay updated with the latest headlines.