LEARNING CENTRE
FGM
What is it?
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is the cutting or removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. FGM has no health benefits and can be very harmful.
There are different terms for FGM, including ‘sunnah’, ‘female circumcision’ and ‘female genital cutting’/‘cutting’. National FGM Centre – Traditional Terms for Female Genital Mutilation.
There are 4 main types of FGM, as classified by the World Health Organization. Type 1 and 2 are the most common. These usually include cutting the clitoris.
FGM is usually carried out by a female elder, with no anaesthetic, using basic tools such as knives or razor blades. However, in some countries, doctors perform FGM as an operation. This is called ‘medicalisation’ and it is illegal in most countries as it is still extremely harmful.
FGM can be carried out on a girl anytime between infancy and age 15, and occasionally on adult women, from FGM-affected communities.
Harms that FGM can cause include:
- Severe pain and blood loss
- Shock
- Difficulty passing urine
- Infections
- Back pain
- Infertility
- Risks during pregnancy and birth
- Psychological harm
- Death
Reasons for FGM include:
- To control female sexuality
- To maintain ‘virginity’ before marriage
- To prepare for marriage
- To be part of the group
- Pressure from family / community
- Rite of passage and maintaining ‘honour’
- ‘Out of love’
There may be warning signs that FGM is planned / has been carried out on a girl. Please refer to the National FGM Risk Assessment Tool here.
What can we do?
Call 999 if someone is in immediate danger
Report to your Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Report to Social Care / MASH if appropriate
Link with a specialist agency upon obtaining consent (if the victim survivor is an adult)
Offer non-judgmental emotional support
Keep accurate records and use professional curiosity when asking questions
Don’t forget the mandatory duty to report if you are a teacher, social worker or healthcare professional.
Specialist support services for FGM
Support is available for anyone who has had FGM, or is at risk of FGM, as well as those who are worried for someone they know.
Oxford Rose Clinic, Specialist clinic for FGM survivors – 07767 671 406
NSPCC FGM Helpline – 0800 028 3550
Email fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk
Useful resources
Articles by Dr Brenda Kelly
- Should female genital cosmetic surgery and genital piercing be regarded ethically and legally as female genital mutilation? (2012)
- Mandatory submission of patient identifiable information to third parties: FGM now, what next? (2015)
- We need better data on FGM, not propaganda (2016)
- When The Law is Not Enough: International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM (2018)
- The narrative around FGM needs to move beyond prosecution (2018)
- FGM: Filling in the Health Messages (2019)
- “You like my toenails?” Caring for migrant pregnant women (2021)
Starting conversations about FGM
- Easy-Read FGM Leaflet
- A short guide to opening questions about FGM for Health Visitors
- Let’s Talk about FGM Oxford Against Cutting booklet
- Let’s Talk FGM website and app(2017)
- “Developing an app to support sensitive enquiry and discussion about female genital mutilation” ( 2021)
Safeguarding
- ‘Protect our girls’ – podcast by Pain Concern about FGM
- National FGM Risk Assessment Tool
- FGM Safeguarding Pathway (Department of Health)
- FGM Safeguarding and Risk Assessment guide for health professionals (Department of Health)
- Position statement on female genital harm
Guidance
- The role of the GP and FGM, an infographic by Dr Sharon Dixon, our Trustee
- FGM and the Law – Presentation by Caroline Pinder, Researcher for 28 Too Many and our Trustee The importance of language in reporting about FGM
- Statutory Multi-Agency Guidance on FGM
- Faith leaders guidance on FGM
- Serious Crime Act 2015 Factsheet on FGM
- Oxford University Hospitals leaflet about FGM