Pharaonic circumcised ladies always deceive the boys hidden their issue.
There are over 100 million girls and women who have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that another 2 million are subject to it every year. FGM is practiced in many countries, especially Africa and parts of the Middle East. Various degrees of FGM are prevalent, the most mutilating one being infibulation (pharaonic). With infibulation there are numerous life-long health problems such as hemorrhage, infection, dyspareunia, genital ulcers, and gynecological and obstetrical complications. It has been postulated that FGM may also play a significant role in facilitating the transmission of HIV infection through numerous mechanisms. In this article several of the most common complications are discussed and helpful suggestions for management during pregnancy and delivery are explored. Included are the legal and ethical ramifications.
FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM), which is inaccurately referred to as female circumcision by some people, has been practiced for centuries. Egyptian mummies were found to have been circumcised as far back as 200 B. C. In the 19th Century it was practiced in Europe and North America as a remedy for ailments like epilepsy, hysteria, and masturbation. The practice of FGM is most prevalent in the African countries such as Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt, and some area of the Middle East. It is not restricted to any ethnic, religious or socioeconomic class. There are many reasons for perpetuation of this practice; the most common are cultural and religious beliefs. Although often associated with Islam, it is also practiced by other religious groups, including Christians. There is no mention of it in the Koran. An overwhelming factor for its justification is the cultural influence and traditions, social acceptance within the community, and ensuring chastity and fidelity by attenuating sexual desire. A research study done in Nigeria on the Igbos tribe found that women believe that FGM makes them more feminine and thus more attractive to men. The clinical classifications will be followed.
• Type I—Clitoridectomy is the removal of prepuce and part of the clitoris. Also called Sunna Circumcision.This is the least mutilating one.
• Type II—The clitoris and part of the labia are excised and then sewn together by sutures, thorns, or tying the girl's legs together until the edges have united.
• Type III—Infibulation (pharaonic) is the most extreme. Here the clitoris, labia minora are excised and incisions made in the labia majora to create raw surfaces that are then either stitched together or kept in close contact until they seal and form a cover for the urethral meatus. A very small orifice is left for the passage of urine and menstrual flow. Because this type is the most mutilating, the medical, obstetrical, and psychological complications are more profound. In many regions it is the most common procedure performed (e.g., in Djibouti and Somalia 98% of FGM are infibulations).
Common Complications following FGM, especially if the girl is infibulated, are common and many are well documented. These may be immediate or late. The major immediate complications are, of course, hemorrhage from the dorsal artery, shock and then infection, urinary retention and tetanus, which can lead to mortality.
Some late and long-term complications seen are urinary incontinence, cysts, urogenital tract infections, severe dyspareunia, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and obstetrical problems such as delayed or obstructed second stage labor, trauma, and hemorrhage. Hemorrhage was also seen as a late complication especially in the newly married girl who was tightly infibulated and was subjected to forcible sex by the husband or who the husband defibulated using various instruments such as scissors, blades or knives.
‘But our Somali girls they feel uncomfortable and shy discussing their sexual habits and also nowa days every girl that you make a relation with her, she always tells that she is Sunna Circumcised, but lastly when you marry her then she changes her idea and tells you the truth so, this issue some times creates the lady to be divorced with in the honey week, therefore why ladies deceive the boys on this issue and also why boys discriminate the circumcised pharaonic girls, dear readers which one you prefer the two circumcisions and why?
By Executive Director of Somali Young doctors Association (SOYDA)
Dr. Abdiqani Sheikh Omar
Drabdiqani6@gmail.com,somyoungdoctors@gmail.com