infibulation

Infibulation is an extreme form of female genital mutilation (FGM) that involves the removal of the clitoris, labia minora, and most of the labia majora. The remaining tissue is then stitched together to significantly reduce the vaginal opening. This procedure is often performed without anesthesia and under unhygienic conditions, leading to severe short-term consequences such as bleeding, infection, and pain, and long-term issues like difficulties with urination and menstruation, painful intercourse, and complications during childbirth.12

While FGM encompasses a range of procedures, infibulation is considered the most severe. It is a ritual surgical practice traditional in some societies, with varying cultural meanings, sometimes viewed as a rite of passage into womanhood and other times as a method of control. Many nations, including the U.S., have outlawed FGM.23