Female genital mutilation and childbirth: a case report

Over 80 million women in more than 30 countries have undergone female genital mutilation, also called female circumcision, according to World Health Organization estimates. Over the past decade 70,000 Somalians have become residents in Canada, 50,000 of whom live in Toronto, Ontario. Many of the women are of childbearing age, and 99.5 percent of women in Somalia are reported to have been genitally mutilated. Canadian medical organizations have published position statements prohibiting the practice. This case report describes the pregnancy and childbirth of a Somalian woman with the infibulation type of procedure. When perinatal health professionals are aware of and sensitive to the cultural and medical implications and sequelae of female genital mutilation, they will give better care to affected women.