Female genital mutilation and its psychosexual impact

Abstract

Two hundred and fifty women, randomly selected from the patients of Maternal and Childhood Centers in Ismailia, were examined gynecologically and interviewed to investigate their psycho-sexual activity. Results showed that the 80% who were circumcised, complained more significantly of dysmenorrhea (80.5%), vaginal dryness during intercourse (48.5%), lack of sexual desire (45%), less frequency of sexual desire per week (28%), less initiative during sex (11%), being less pleased by sex (49%), being less orgasmic (39%), and less frequency of orgasm (25%), and having difficulty reaching orgasm (60.5%) than the uncircumcised women. However, other psychosexual problems, such as loss of interest in foreplay and dyspareunia, did not reach statistical significance. The study suggests that circumcision has a negative impact on a woman’s psychosexual life. © 2001 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.