Restoring Body and Identity After Female Genital Cutting

In France, reconstructive surgery following female genital cutting has been available through the national health service since 2004. However, data on the outcomes of such surgery are sparse. Researchers at a hospital in France recently reported one surgeon's experience with reconstruction in 2938 consecutive women (mean age, 29) who sought this service. Five percent of women had undergone infibulation with clitoral excision, and 95% had undergone excision with or without pseudoinfibulation (terms defined in table). Although most came from West Africa, 19% had undergone cutting in France. Expectations before surgery included identity recovery (>99%), improved sexual function (81%), and pain reduction (20%).

Operative complications occurred i…