Background Although the prevalence of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in Egypt among married women aged 15-49 years is high (92%) in the most recent (2014) Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), prevalence rates appear to be declining among younger cohorts of girls and women. Support for the discontinuation of the practice is also more widespread in younger generations, among females, and among those living in urban areas. Variations in attitudes towards FGM/C by education level, and wealth status are also documented. While there have been numerous studies that have examined the reasons why people practise FGM/C, there have been few studies that examine the characteristics of the much smaller subset of individuals who have abandoned the practice. In this study, we sought to: examine the characteristics of abandoners and explore the geographic patterns of FGM/C abandonment; explore the benefits gained and challenges faced by abandoners within their families/communities; understand how families and individuals overcome social sanctions and mitigate against the risk of relapse. Methods We conducted a comparative, multi-site, mixed methods study comprising a secondary analysis of nationally representative quantitative data and primary qualitative research in Cairo, urban and rural Gharbeya (a Lower Egypt Governorate) and urban and rural Sohag (an Upper Egypt Governorate). Discussion Results point to the importance of redefining what exactly FGM/C is, as it is apparent from the qualitative data collected that the meaning of abandonment of the practice is not uniform. It is important to recognise the dangers of the practice even when performed by a medical practitioner. More importantly, it is also crucial to start moving the narrative against FGM/C away from the medical harms of the practice to ensure the sustainability of abandonment efforts and start tackling the root causes of the issue-which is the belief that girls' and women's libido should be regulated. While there seems to be some social status-or social utility-gained by abandoners in seeing and presenting themselves as more educated and progressive than those who circumcise, findings suggest that abandoners still face reputational and tangible costs. Addressing the beliefs around acceptable female behaviour, as well as the relationship between circumcision and behaviour, is important in changing communities' perception about the assumed benefits of circumcision, and thereby fostering less judgement, and lowering the reputational costs associated with abandonment. Moreover, interventions that aim to raise awareness, should build on mothers' own personal experiences, as this seems to be a strong deterrent against circumcision. Finally, it is important for programmes to address medicalised FGM/C as some people may believe there is a "need" for medicalised circumcision, a common belief, even for some who have already abandoned the practice in its traditional form.