Painful Intercourse and Female Genital Mutilation

Female Genital Mutilation

Female genital mutilation (FGM)

Female genital mutilation (FGM) affects about 130 million women or girls in the world, with about 2 million girls undergoing the procedure every year. Heavy bleeding, infection, tetanus, gangrene, sepsis and death may result. All women who have undergone this procedure suffer from sexual dysfunction and loss of sexual pleasure.

FGM means partial or complete non-therapeutic removal or injury of the female genitals for religious or cultural reasons. Four types of FGM are described:

Type 1 Removal of the clitoris foreskin
Type 2 Removal of the clitoris with partial or total excision of the labia minora
Type 3 (Infibulation) Removal of the clitoris and the labia majora and labia minora, sewing up the vaginal orifice, leaving only a small opening for urine and menstruation blood
Type 4 Other types of pricking, piercing, stretching and /or scraping of the vagina

Painful intercourse (dyspareunia) and vaginismus are common side effects to Female Genital Mutilation

After type 3 FGM the risk of infertility is around 25-30%. Painful intercourse (dyspareunia) and vaginismus are common side effects. Damage to the nerves alters genital sensation which can result in chronic pain.

About Dr. Pacik

Peter Pacik, MD, FACS is a recognized pioneer in treating patients with Botox for vaginismus and the author of When Sex Seems Impossible: Stories of Vaginismus and How You Can Achieve Intimacy. He has been in practice for over thirty years and belongs to a small group of prestigious surgeons who are double board certified by both the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery. In 2010, Dr. Pacik received FDA approval to continue his study to treat vaginismus using intravaginal injections of Botox together with progressive dilation under anesthesia.