1 Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) affects more than 230 million females of all ages worldwide, including an estimated 58 000 in Canada 1The World Health Organization defines FGM/C as "all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or injury to the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons." 2 This practice is common in more than 30 countries, particularly Egypt and Sudan, and in sub-Saharan Africa.2 There are several distinct types of FGM/C, with differing health implications Clinicians should screen for FGM/C using culturally sensitive language (e.g., "Have you ever had a procedure done to your genital area?"). 2,3nderstanding the type (Appendix 1, available at www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.251645/tab-related-content)informs anticipatory guidance, obstetric planning, and potential need for surgical intervention such as deinfibulation. 2Type I and II are most common (80% to 85%), whereas type III accounts for approximately 10%. 2 Documentation should use "FGM/C," including type, and the patient's preferred terminology (e.g., "circumcision," "cut," or "closed").
Chang et al. (Sun,) studied this question.