Female Circumcision & Health Complications. Post #4

                                   Female Circumcision & Health Complications.
    SOURCE TITLE:THE RISK OF MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS AFTER FEMALE                   CIRCUMCISION BY M. A. DIRIE and G. LINDMARK

This source includes the voices of women who got circumcised. A research was done at Mogadishu, Somalia regarding the health effects of female circumcision; the report was published by the East Africa Journal.   First the methods of circumcision was described ecause this sometimes helps to determine the level of complication a woman might experience. The three types of circumcision are sunna, clitoridectomy, and the excision and infibulation operation. Sunna requires the prepuce of clitoris to be removed just like the fore skin of the male penis is removed. The clitoridectomy type is the removal of some parts of the labia minora and clitoris. The excision and infibulation operation is the removal of the entire external female reproductive system (clitoris, labia minora, labia major). However, a little bit of opening is left below the vulva. The severity of health risk depends of the type of circumcision the woman is given.

                According to the research most women reported that they experienced “hemorrhage, pain, ermoid cyst at the site of the amputated clitoris, urinary problems such as pain at micturition, dribbling urine incontinence and poor urinary flow.”(DIRIE&LINDMARK)  Some women experience the effect right after the procedure while some don’t. Examples of quick effects are infection, hemorrhage or urinary retention. About 290 women were surveyed, most of them were 22 years of age. Most which were circumcised at home by someone who lacked proper training. 88% had the excision and infibulation, 6.5% had clitoridectomy and 5.5% had Sunna. The studied showed that women who has the excision and infibulation experienced more pain and lack of urine control. 5 women shared their experienced about being rushed to the hospital for blood because they had shock as a result of the procedure. 2 women had a surgery, about 36 had cyst at the site. (DIRIE&LINDMARK)

                Furthermore, once a woman is circumcised they need to be defibulated which can be done by their husbands. However, it may the hard for some men to do because of the way vulva was tied up so they may get someone else to do it. Most people feel very ashamed to do this because they are viewed as a disappointment to the entire society. The defibulation process is long, painful, horrific, stressful and hurtful just like the circumcision process but the defibulation process may take between 2 to 12 weeks to complete. To sum up the health complications of almost all women who experience this procedure feel excruciating pain which is the most common complication. Complications can lead to death. (DIRIE&LINDMARK)

                I agree with this source because it addresses all the possible health problems women may experience as a result of circumcision. I do not disagree with anything. I just wish the researcher include quotes of what the women said. A question someone may ask is that most of the time men do not experience no life threatening complications from circumcision but why should women do, is it even really necessary, is it done to women to show that men have more power over them and in the society or is it used as a way to punish women? After reading this source, I personally would say no matter the reason female circumcision is not really necessary because it is a painful brutal experience. However my conclusion may seem too extreme but I am saying this for this particular post and source.

                The first scholarly source addresses some reasons female circumcision should be done. However, this source is totally against female circumcision because it highlights the health complications women themselves report that they experience after being circumcised. The complications vary but they can all increase the chance of death.

For the full source information, visit: http://www.cirp.org/pages/female/dirie1/

Source:
Dirie, M., and G. Lindmark. "The Risk of Medical Complications after Female Circumcision." The Risk of Medical Complications after Female Circumcision. EAST AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL, Sept. 1992. Web. 02 Dec. 2014. <http://www.cirp.org/pages/female/dirie1/>.