clitoridectomy

Clitoridectomy is a ritual surgical procedure that involves the partial or total removal of the clitoris. It is one of several types of female genital cutting (FGC), a practice found in various cultures. FGC encompasses a range of procedures, from minor nicks to extensive tissue removal and the sewing shut of the vaginal opening (infibulation).12

These procedures are often performed without anesthesia and in unhygienic conditions, leading to severe short-term consequences like bleeding, infection, and pain, and long-term issues such as chronic pain during intercourse, difficulties with urination and menstruation, and complications during childbirth.1

Culturally, FGC can be viewed as a rite of passage into womanhood or as a method of controlling female sexuality and marking social status. The practice has become a subject of international debate regarding individual rights versus cultural traditions. An estimated 100 to 140 million women and girls worldwide have undergone some form of FGC, with millions more at risk annually.1