Consequences of Female Genital Mutilation on Women’s Sexual Health – Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

BackgroundFemale genital mutilation (FGM) can leave a lasting mark on the lives and minds of those affected. AimTo assess the consequences of FGM on women’s sexual function in women who have undergone FGM compared to women who have not undergone FGM. MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted from 3 databases; inclusion and exclusion criterions were determined. Studies included adult women having undergone FGM and presenting sexual disorders assessed by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). ResultsOf 129 studies, 5 that met the criteria were selected. The sexual function of mutilated women, based on the FSFI total score and its different domains, was compared to the sexual function of non-mutilated women. There was a significant decrease in the total FSFI scores of mutilated women compared to non-mutilated women. However, the results obtained for the different domains were not the same for all authors. The meta-analysis highlighted a high heterogeneity with inconsistency and true variance in effect size between-studies. ConclusionAnalysis of studies showed that there is a significant decrease in the total FSFI score, indicating that FGM of any type may cause impaired sexual functioning. But a firm conclusion on this topic is not yet achievable because the results of this analysis do not allow to conclude a cause and effect relationship of FGM on sexual function.Nzinga A-M, De Andrade Castanheira S, Herklmann J, et al. Consequences of Female Genital Mutilation on Women’s Sexual Health – Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Sex Med 2021;18:750–760.