Pleasure and Orgasm in Women with Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C)

Abstract

Introduction Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) violates human rights. FGM/C women's sexuality is not well known and often it is neglected by gynecologists, urologists, and sexologists. In mutilated/cut women, some fundamental structures for orgasm have not been excised. Aim The aim of this report is to describe and analyze the results of four investigations on sexual functioning in different groups of cut women. Main Outcome Measure Instruments: semistructured interviews and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Methods Sample: 137 adult women affected by different types of FGM/C; 58 young FGM/C ladies living in the West; 57 infibulated women; 15 infibulated women after the operation of defibulation. Results The group of 137 women, affected by different types of FGM/C, reported orgasm in almost 86%, always 69.23%; 58 mutilated young women reported orgasm in 91.43%, always 8.57%; after defibulation 14 out of 15 infibulated women reported orgasm; the group of 57 infibulated women investigated with the FSFI questionnaire showed significant differences between group of study and an equivalent group of control in desire, arousal, orgasm, and satisfaction with mean scores higher in the group of mutilated women. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in lubrication and pain. Conclusion Embryology, anatomy, and physiology of female erectile organs are neglected in specialist textbooks. In infibulated women, some erectile structures fundamental for orgasm have not been excised. Cultural influence can change the perception of pleasure, as well as social acceptance. Every woman has the right to have sexual health and to feel sexual pleasure for full psychophysical well-being of the person. In accordance with other research, the present study reports that FGM/C women can also have the possibility of reaching an orgasm. Therefore, FGM/C women with sexual dysfunctions can and must be cured; they have the right to have an appropriate sexual therapy.

Intervenciones sobre los genitales femeninos: Entre el bisturí del cirujano plástico y el cuchillo ritual

“…Sin embargo, algunos estudios recientes demuestran que incluso las mujeres a las que se le ha practicado el tipo de corte más drástico, o sea la infibulación, pueden tener una vida sexual satisfactoria (Lightfoot-Klein 1989: 80;Obermeyer 1999: 95 y Gruenbaum 2001. Según los datos recogidos por Lucrezia Catania y Omar Abdulcadir Hussen (2005 y 2007) utilizando el índice de función sexual femenina 29 entre mujeres infibuladas -sin complicaciones sanitarias y con una relación emocionalmente satisfactoria con su pareja-solo el 3,65 % no consigue alcanzar el clímax (Catania y Abdulcadir 2005: 168-183;Catania 2007Catania : 1670Okonofua et al 2002Okonofua et al : 1092 . 29 El índice de función sexual femenina (Female Sexual Function Index, FSFI) es un instrumento válido y fiable para medir el funcionamiento sexual femenino.…”

Female Genital Cutting Restricts Sociosexuality Among the Igbo People of Southeast Nigeria

“…Some research documents that FGC decreases women's sexual satisfaction, orgasm frequency, and sexual desire (Alsibiani & Rouzi, 2010;Andersson, Rymer, Joyce, Momoh, & Gayle, 2012;Anis et al, 2012;Berg & Denison, 2012). In contrast, other research documents no association between women who underwent FGC and the occurrence of premarital sex or sexual satisfaction (Ahmadu, 2007;Catania et al, 2007;Makhlouf Obermeyer, 2005;Van Rossem & Gage, 2009). These measures (e.g., premarital sex, sexual satisfaction, and orgasm frequency) do not fully capture many important aspects of sociosexuality-defined by Simpson and Gangestad (1991) as individual differences in willingness to engage in uncommitted sexual relations.…”

Perceptions of the Vhavenda Regarding the Significance of IKS Rituals and Customs in Women’s Health: “The Other Side of The Coin”

“…Although there is little research on this subject some argue that the use of botanicals to enhance the stretching exercise may have negative side effects on the women's health. Furthermore they reiterated that female genital mutilation is illegal and is regarded as an assault causing grievous bodily harm, therefore any person who performs it is liable to prosecution under the legislation that prohibits its performance (Boyle et al 2000;Catania et al 2007).…”