Certain societies practice female genital mutilation as a form of identity and continuity or based on religious perception. It is used to ensure that women conform to socio-cultural rules of that particular society. A grave form of violence against girls and women, this cruel practice exists in some social groups even today. Women with female genital mutilation face an increased risk of several health complications, including genital morbidities such as cysts, menstrual and urinal problems, and infections that can affect sexuality and future fertility. This violation of basic human rights is performed on girls between 0 and 15 years of age and occasionally is interlinked with marriage ceremonies.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) needs to be discussed and discouraged as it can cause infertility or birth complications. Women who have undergone FGM should be treated for infections by removing cysts and treating complications. Defibulation of infibulated (‘sealed’) girls and women before pregnancy or early in pregnancy can be done to reduce some of the risks during childbirth.

Health problems	Issues to maternal health	Issues to infant health
Female genital mutilation	Infections, infertility, delivery complications	Morbidity and mortality as a result of delivery complications

Health problems	Preventive interventions
Female genital mutilation risk in adolescence or later	In areas where FGM is a risk during adolescence and at later stages, discuss and discourage the practice among girls and her parents and/or partner; screen women and girls for female genital mutilation to detect complications that may cause inability to have sexual intercourse, infertility or birth complications; counsel to discourage continuation of female genital mutilation in the next generation; treat infections and other conditions that can cause infertility.
Female genital mutilation	Inform women and couples about complications of female genital mutilation and about access to treatment.