type 4 FGC

Type 4 Female Genital Cutting (FGC) is a category of ritual surgical procedures that involves causing genital trauma without fitting into more defined types of FGC. This can include practices like nicking, piercing, scraping, or cauterizing the genitalia, or placing caustic substances in the vagina.1

FGC, in general, is a traditional practice in various societies and encompasses a range of procedures with diverse social meanings. These procedures are often performed without anesthesia and in unhygienic conditions, leading to potential short-term consequences such as severe bleeding, infections, and pain, and long-term issues like difficulties with urination and menstruation, painful sexual intercourse, and complications during childbirth.1

The practice is a subject of international debate concerning individual rights versus cultural traditions. While some view it as an empowering rite of passage, others see it as a method of control. It is estimated that between 100 million and 140 million women and girls worldwide have undergone some form of FGC.1