Abdalla, A., Hussein, D., Ahmed, S., Ali, S., Hussien, M., Abdel Hafeez, N., Ali, M. (2025). Female circumcision can negatively affects female sexual function and psychological health. test, 6(1), 228-241. doi: 10.21608/ejmr.2024.319136.1690
Ahmed G. S. Abdalla; Dina A. Hussein; Samar S. Ahmed; Salwa Mahmoud Ali; Mohamed A Hussien; Noha Gamal Abdel Hafeez; Motee R. Ali. "Female circumcision can negatively affects female sexual function and psychological health". test, 6, 1, 2025, 228-241. doi: 10.21608/ejmr.2024.319136.1690
Abdalla, A., Hussein, D., Ahmed, S., Ali, S., Hussien, M., Abdel Hafeez, N., Ali, M. (2025). 'Female circumcision can negatively affects female sexual function and psychological health', test, 6(1), pp. 228-241. doi: 10.21608/ejmr.2024.319136.1690
Abdalla, A., Hussein, D., Ahmed, S., Ali, S., Hussien, M., Abdel Hafeez, N., Ali, M. Female circumcision can negatively affects female sexual function and psychological health. test, 2025; 6(1): 228-241. doi: 10.21608/ejmr.2024.319136.1690

Female circumcision can negatively affects female sexual function and psychological health

Egyptian Journal of Medical Research
Volume 6, Issue 1, January 2025, Pages 228-241    PDF (723.39 K)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/ejmr.2024.319136.1690
Authors
Ahmed G. S. Abdalla1; Dina A. Hussein* 1; Samar S. Ahmed2; Salwa Mahmoud Ali3; Mohamed A Hussien3; Noha Gamal Abdel Hafeez4; Motee R. Ali5
1Forensic medicine and clinical toxicology department, Faculty of medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni- Suef, Egypt
2Public health department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez University, Egypt
3Obstetrics and Gynecology department, Faculty of medicine, Beni- Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62514 Egypt
4Psychology department, Faculty of Arts, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef,
5Forensic medicine and clinical toxicology department, Faculty of medicine, Beni- Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62514 Egypt
Abstract
Background: Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is any procedures that cause injury to the female external genitalia without medical causes. The existing literature is contradictory regarding effects of FGM/C on sexual functions. Objectives: to identify the differences between circumcised and non-circumcised females in sexual function, psychological health and female genital hormones. Methods: This was a case control study performed on 115 females divided into 2 groups; group (A) including 21 females not exposed to FGM and group (B) including 94 females exposed to any type of FGM. All the participants were subjected to full history taking and laboratory assessment of FSH, LH, prolactin, Estradiol (E2), free and total testosterone levels. Sexual functions were assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire and psychological health effects were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21) questionnaire. Results: 94 (81.7%) of females were circumcised and the rest 21 (18.3%) non circumcised. From the circumcised females; 81 (86.2%) were of type 1 and the remaining 13 (13.5%) were of type 2. The total FSFI score was significantly lower in circumcised females (25.16±2.93) compared to non-circumcised females (28.10±2.98). The majority of females with circumcision suffered from moderate stress (50%), moderate anxiety (37.2%) and mild depression (34.2%). There was no effect of FGM/C on hormonal profile. Conclusions: FGM/C is associated with reduced sexual functions as well as significant reduction in desire, arousal and satisfaction domains. Depression, anxiety and stress were higher in circumcised females; however the difference was non-significant.
Keywords
Female circumcision; Mutilation; FSFI score; DASS-21 score
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