Female genital self-mutilation: case reports and literature review

Three cases are reported that demonstrate the variety of clinical conditions in which female genital self-mutilation may be found. The most common variety appears to be the habitually self-harming individual with a severe personality disorder. One of the cases reported, however, is a woman with a delusional disorder whose body image distortions led her to ablate one of her labia majora. The three cases presented are discussed in the context of the eight cases previously reported of genital self-mutilation found in women.