Which practices can be included in Type 4 female genital cutting?

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Body modifications and mutilations Peruvian elongated skulls, trephined male (left) and intact female (right), c. 1000 bc.

Type 4 female genital cutting (FGC) encompasses all procedures that cause genital trauma but do not fall under the definitions of Types 1, 2, or 3. These practices include:

Nicking
Piercing
Scraping
Cauterizing the genitalia
Placing caustic substances in the vagina

These procedures are recognized as harmful, and international bodies, including the World Health Organization and the United Nations, have advocated for their elimination due to the severe physiological and psychological risks they pose to women and girls. Ethical principles prioritize the bodily integrity and human rights of individuals, standing against practices that inflict non-consensual trauma and long-term health consequences.12