Effect of female genital mutilation on female sexual function, Alexandria, Egypt

• Main Author: Manal Ibrahim Hanafi Mahmoud
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2016-03-01
• Series: Alexandria Journal of Medicine
• Subjects: Female genital mutilation; Female sexual function; Circumcision
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090506815000238

Background: The global prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) ranges from 0.6% up to 98%. It has many health psychological impacts including abnormalities of female sexual function. Objectives: To study female genital mutilation and its effect on female sexual function, Alexandria, Egypt 2013. Methods: A case–control study was conducted on a convenient sample of 272 circumcised women with their 272 control from 4 randomly selected primary health care centers. Specially designed format (including data about socio-demographic characters, gynecological obstetric histories, and FGM act) and female sexual function index (a 19-item self-reported questionnaire for assessing the key dimensions of female sexual function) were used. Bivariate analysis was conducted to test significant differences between cases and control. Results: 73.9% of cases experienced dysmenorrhea (OR = 3.750), 43.4% had obstructed labor (OR = 1.745) and 27.6% got postpartum hemorrhage (OR = 2.855). 48.9% of FGM was performed by dayas or midwives, 91.2% performed at home, 49.6% of type I, and 87.9% experienced complications. Cases had lower mean sexual function. 52.6% of cases were convinced with FGM. Conclusion: FGM was a risk factor for dysmenorrhea, obstructed labor and postpartum hemorrhage. Cases had lower mean sexual function; moreover, half of them convinced with FGM practice and with its continuation.