AFRO-NETS> Genital cutting does not eliminate womens sexual sensation study

["A. Odutola" <chpss_abo2@yahoo.com>]

Genital cutting does not eliminate women?s sexual sensation ? study
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Datelinehealth-Africa News Service - 06/18/03
 
Staff Reporter
 
Lagos, Nigeria, June 18 2003 -- Nigerian women who have undergone fe-
male genital cutting are as likely as those who have not to achieve 
orgasm during sexual intercourse, conclude a study conducted in Edo 
State, Southwestern Nigeria, between 1998 ­ 1999.
 
According to the investigators led by Dr. Okonofua, Gynaecologist and 
Obstetrician, this important finding ?negates the argument of female 
genital cutting proponents that cut women experience reduced sexual 
sensation (which is expected to make them less likely than uncut 
women to become sexually promiscuous).?
 
The study sample comprised 1,836 women most of who were married. The 
women were recruited at rural and urban antenatal and family planning 
clinics in a community where approximately 45% of the female popula-
tion has undergone female genital cutting, usually in infancy. A 
structured questionnaire, administered by a trained nurse or midwife, 
was used to obtain data on socio-demographic characteristics, sexual 
activity and clinical history. A physician examined the women to de-
termine the type of circumcision if any that the women had undergone.
 
Some 55% of participants had not undergone female genital cutting. 
32% had undergone type I genital cutting (at least partial removal of 
the clitoris). 11% type II (at least partial removal of the clitoris 
and labia minora) and fewer than 2% type III (at least partial re-
moval of the external genitalia and stitching or narrowing of the 
vaginal opening) or type IV (any other genital cutting).
 
In response to questions about sexual behaviour, the study found that 
women who had undergone genital cutting were just as likely as those 
who had not to report having had recent sexual intercourse and were 
more likely to report at least sometimes initiating sexual inter-
course with their partners. In addition, women who had been cut were 
at least as likely as uncut women to report regularly having an or-
gasm during sexual intercourse. Cut women were however less likely 
than uncut women, to cite the clitoris and more likely to identify 
the breast as their most sensitive body part. This finding, according 
to the authors, ?suggests that genital cutting does not eliminate a 
woman?s sexual sensation, but instead shift(s) the point of maximal 
sexual stimulation from the clitoris or labia to the breast.?
 
Other significant observations emanating from the study were that cut 
women were significantly more likely than uncut women to report yel-
lowish and bad smelling vaginal discharge (odds ratio, 2.8), white 
vaginal discharge (odds ratio 1.7) and lower abdominal pain (odds ra-
tio 1.5). The reasons for this is not well understood
 
Female genital cutting is practiced all over the world but commonly 
in developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. It is estimated by the 
World Health Organisation (WHO) that about two million women undergo 
some form of genital cutting annually. Female genital cutting is a 
cultural practice with psycho-social, legal, human rights and medical 
implications. It is associated with HIV/AIDS transmission
 
Reference: 
Okonofua, F.E., et al. 2002: The association between female genital 
cutting and correlates of sexual and gynaecological morbidity in Edo 
State, Nigeria. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 
109(10): 1089-1096
 
 
For more comprehensive resources on Female Genital Cutting, visit:
 
* WHO Factsheet on female genital mutilation
  http://www.who.int/inf-fs/en/fact241.html
 
* IPPF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
  A List of Selected Resources
  http://www.ippf.org/fgm/
 
Copyright 2003: Datelinehealth-Africa Inc. All rights reserved.
 
Permission to re-distribute and/or re-use is herewith given for all 
purposes except commercial subject to proper citation as to source. 
 
------
A. Odutola
Centre for Health Policy & Strategic Studies (CHPSS)*
Lagos, Nigeria
mailto:chpss_abo@yahoo.com
 
* CHPSS promotes better health for all in Nigeria and elsewhere in
  Africa through engagement in research, policy advocacy and communi-
  cation activities.
--
To send a message to AFRO-NETS, write to: afro-nets@healthnet.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe, write to: majordomo@healthnet.org
in the body of the message type: subscribe afro-nets OR unsubscribe afro-nets
To contact a person, send a message to: afro-nets-help@healthnet.org
Information and archives: http://www.afronets.org