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/>.
Female genital mutilation same as
Female Circumcision is a procedure performed to women to symbolize adulthood or
it is done as a cultural requirements. The procedure does not have any health benefits
however it causes several health issue. So the question is should it be done or
should it be stopped. People like me will definitely say the act should be
eliminated because of the pain and health complications. But then again, I will
want to consider the cultural reasons behind it. It is a hard question to be
answered without being bias. The issue is a problem because United Nation and other global organization got involved and are working towards eliminating the act because of the health issues and inhumane attitude.
