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Table 1 WHO classification of Female Genital Mutilation

From: Episiotomy and obstetric outcomes among women living with type 3 female genital mutilation: a secondary analysis

Type I : Partial or total removal of the clitorisa and/or the prepuce (clitoridectomy)

 Type Ia: Removal of the clitoral hood or prepuce only

 Type Ib: Removal of the clitorisa with the prepuce

Type II: Partial or total removal of the clitorisa and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora (excision)

 Type IIa: Removal of the labia minora only

 Type IIb: Partial or total removal of the clitorisa and the labia minora

 Type IIc: Partial or total removal of the clitorisa, the labia minora and the labia majora

Type III: Narrowing of the vaginal orifice with creation of a covering seal by cutting and apposition the labia minora and/or the labia majora, with or without excision of the clitoris (infibulation)

 Type IIIa: Removal and apposition of the labia minora

 Type IIIb: Removal and apposition of the labia majora

Type IV: Unclassified

 All other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, for example, pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterisation

  1. aWhen total removal of the clitoris is reported, it refers to the total removal of the glans of the clitoris
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Reproductive Health

ISSN: 1742-4755