FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION(FGM)

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Female genital mutilation (FGM), also known as female circumcision or female genital cutting, is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as "all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons".

It is estimated that approximately 100-140 million African women have undergone FGM worldwide and each year, a further 3 million girls are estimated to be at risk of the practice in Africa alone. Most of them live in African countries, a few in the Middle East and Asian countries, and increasingly in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America and Canada.

The procedure is traditionally carried out by an older woman with no medical training. Anesthetics and antiseptic treatment are not generally used and the practice is usually carried out using basic tools such as knives, scissors, scalpels, pieces of glass and razor blades. Often iodine or a mixture of herbs is placed on the wound to tighten the vagina and stop the bleeding.

The age at which the practice is carried out varies, from shortly after birth to the labour of the first child, depending on the community or individual family. The most common age is between four and ten, although it appears to be falling. This suggests that circumcision is becoming less strongly linked to puberty rites and initiation into adulthood.

Types and Terms of FGM

The World Health Organization has classified FGM into four types. As well as the term Female Genital Mutilation, there are a number of other terms or names used to describe the practice, perhaps most common, female circumcision or female genital cutting (FGC). Some chooses to use the term Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as we believe that it is the term that most accurately depicts the true nature of FGM.
 Female genital mutilation is classified into four major types.

• Clitoridectomy: partial or total removal of the clitoris (a small, sensitive and erectile part of the female genitals) and, in very rare cases, only the prepuce (the fold of skin surrounding the clitoris).
• Excision: partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora (the labia are "the lips" that surround the vagina).
• Infibulation: narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the inner, or outer, labia, with or without removal of the clitoris.
• Other: all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area.

The majority of cases of FGM are carried out in 28 African countries. In some countries, (e.g. Egypt, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan), prevalence rates can be as high as 98 per cent. In other countries, such as Nigeria, Kenya, Togo and Senegal, the prevalence rates vary between 20 and 50 per cent. It is more accurate however, to view FGM as being practised by specific ethnic groups, rather than by a whole country, as communities practising FGM straddle national boundaries. FGM takes place in parts of the Middle East, i.e. in Yemen, Oman, Iraqi Kurdistan, amongst some Bedouin women in Israel, and was also practised by the Ethiopian Jews, and it is unclear whether they continue with the practice now that they are settled in Israel. FGM is also practised among Bohra Muslim populations in parts of India and Pakistan, and amongst Muslim populations in Malaysia and Indonesia.

As a result of immigration and refugee movements, FGM is now being practiced by ethnic minority populations in other parts of the world, such as USA, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Consequences of FGM

Depending on the degree of mutilation, FGM can have a number of short-term health implications:

1.     severe pain and shock

2.     infection

3.     urine retention

4.     injury to adjacent tissues

5.     immediate fatal haemorrhaging

Long-term implications can entail:

1.     extensive damage of the external reproductive system

2.     uterus, vaginal and pelvic infections

3.     cysts and neuromas

4.     increased risk of Vesico Vaginal Fistula

5.     complications in pregnancy and child birth

6.     psychological damage

7.     sexual dysfunction

8.     difficulties in menstruation.

In addition to these health consequences there are considerable psycho-sexual, psychological and social consequences of FGM.

Justifications of FGM

The roots of FGM are complex and numerous; indeed, it has not been exactly possible to determine when or where the tradition of FGM originated.

The justifications given for the practise are multiple and reflect the ideological and historical situation of the societies in which it has developed. Reasons cited generally relate to tradition, power inequalities and the ensuing compliance of women to the dictates of their communities.

Reasons include:

1.     custom and tradition

2.     religion; in the mistaken belief that it is a religious requirement

3.     preservation of virginity/chastity

4.     social acceptance, especially for marriage

5.     hygiene and cleanliness

6.     increasing sexual pleasure for the male

7.     family honour

8.     belonging to the group and conversely the fear of social exclusion

9.     enhancing fertility.

Many women believe that FGM is necessary to ensure acceptance by their community; they are unaware that FGM is not practised in most of the world.

Note

This topic was culled from one of our books ’Female Genital Mutilation’.

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Ovarian Cancer

The Causes and Symptoms

Ovarian cancer is a disease that affects ovarian tissue in the female reproductive system. The ovaries are responsible for producing eggs (ova) and are also a production site for the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Causes and Risk Factors of Ovarian Cancer

Unfortunately, we cannot pinpoint exactly what causes ovarian cancer, but researchers have identified several known risk factors for it. We know that ovarian cancer most often is diagnosed in women who:

• Are post-menopausal.
• Are Caucasian.
• Have a family history of colon cancer, breast, or ovarian cancer.
• Were previously diagnosed with breast cancer.
• Suffer from obesity.
• Used Clomid (a fertility drug) for longer than one year.
• Use(d) estrogen replacement therapy.
• Who have not given birth.
• Have a known inherited mutation of BRCA 1 or 2 gene conformed through genetic testing.

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms

Ovarian cancer is often referred as the "silent killer" because there are no early warning signs, or symptoms aren't noticeable until the advanced stages, when it is less treatable. Early ovarian cancer symptoms are often vague and are commonly chalked up to be related to other, less serious conditions. Early ovarian cancer symptoms may include:

• Changes in bowel habits like constipation or diarrhea
• Pelvic pain or pressure
• Frequent urge to urinate

Symptoms of ovarian cancer that usually do not appear until the disease has progressed include:

• Abdominal bloating.
• Pain during sexual intercourse.
• Persistent fatigue.
• Abdominal weight gain.
• Sudden unexplained weight gain or weight loss.

Persistent symptoms that continue for several weeks need to be reported to your doctor. You should not wait to see if symptoms get better or go away on their own. Seeing your doctor early may lead to an earlier diagnosis.

Note;

The following content was extracted from one of our text ’Ovarian Cancer’.

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For everything about ovarian cancer, causes, symptoms, prevention, control,etc, pick a copy of this book.

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1. 
   

2. Vaginal Odor

   (Causes and Prevention)

   
   
   Vaginal odor may limit sexual activity in a relationship; the woman feels uncomfortable, and the man becomes a little distant. However, the vagina has a distinct smell that is not a problem. Each girl has a particular vaginal smell; it is natural. Even when you notice a recent difference in its smell, it is not necessarily an infection. That change may be linked to a specific moment of your menstrual cycle because the smell of your vagina can vary depending on the time of the cycle.
   A healthy vagina always emerges a discrete odor at one time or another
   It is normal that it has a certain odor sometimes. Whether this natural smell is neutral or not, it is a matter of personal judgment. In fact, some women notice their odor when there is no notable odor detected by their partners.
   However, if the odor changes and becomes strongly unpleasant (repugnant fishy vaginal odor), this change deserves attention because it is perhaps a sign of a serious vaginal infection. Left untreated, this condition may cause not only physiologic problems but also emotional (stress) and social problems (the person feels uncomfortable thinking the odor is detected by others).
   What to do when you have vaginal odor
   Many women believe that vaginal odor are the result of a lack of personal hygiene and wash excessively their vagina unaware that they worsen the problem. While poor genital hygiene can be the cause, excessive washing is not the solution. Very often, women hampered by a strong vaginal odor should not begin to wash themselves intensively. That does not help at all. The first thing to do should be restoring the acidity and the balance of the vaginal flora naturally. That restoration cannot be done by excessive antibiotic intake; it decreases your immune system.
   How to restore the balance of the vaginal flora
   The vaginal flora consists of a large number of microaerophilic bacteria. Among them, lactobacilli are considered the principal ones for their role in protecting the vagina. These micro-organisms are primarily responsible for protective acidity of the vagina. Washing the vagina too often increases its pH, which disrupts the vaginal flora and can cause vaginal infections and particularly unpleasant odors. That is, do not wash your vaginal excessively when you suffer from vaginal health issues.
   If the vaginal flora is disrupted, pathogenic bacteria proliferate, resulting in bacterial vaginosis. This type of proliferation tends to increase the number of bacteria normally present in the vagina causing unpleasant fishy vaginal odor.
   Causes of vaginal odor
   Besides excessive washing, douching, tight clothes and certain chemicals (scented body washes, antibacterial soap, etc) can cause vaginal infection or yeast infections. Certain contraceptives and foreign body in vagina can provoke vaginal odor and other major health issues. Vaginal and anal intercourse alternation during the same session can cause vaginal infection resulting in vaginal odor. Though rare, diet can affect the smell of your vagina. In some cases of vaginal odor, eating a healthy diet (eating fruit and vegetables abundantly) can remediate the condition without any medical treatment
   Useful tips
   Wear clean underwear and change them regularly. Avoid Douching, it is not necessary; it can damage or destroy the normal acidity of the vagina resulting in vaginal problems. If you suffer from ant type of vaginal infection, it is recommended to avoid wearing tight underwear and pants so that the vagina can breathe easier. Tight clothes can irritate the vagina and cause or increase vaginal odor. Wearing cotton panties is also important. If a vaginal infection persists despite treatment, you need to see a doctor because it could be a sign of Cancer of the cervix or vagina, Bacterial Vaginosis, Chlamydia, Genital Herpes, Gonorrhea, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), Vaginitis, Yeast Infection, etc.
   For women, after intercourse, it is important to go urinate. Urination after sex helps to remove any possible bacteria that may be outside or inside the vaginal canal that would go up in the urethra. Because once present, these microbes tend to go up into the bladder, and can cause recurrent urinary infections. Urination causes a cleansing effect, forcing the microbes outside.
   Natural treatment
   Yes, there are herbal remedies formulated to be total feminine products. Not only are they designed to attack the root causes of your current bacterial vaginosis but also their recurrence. Naturally, they balance the flora of your vagina. The ingredients in these remedies can assist in the re-establishment of the natural lactobacilli in your vagina and significantly boost your immune system to fight your existing condition and its recurrence.
   Note;
   This topic was extracted from one of our books ‘BODY ODOR’. For this and more on ladies’/women affairs, visit www.ladiescorner24.blogspot.com
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   Or call 2348082976571.
   Your health is our affair.