Clitoral Reconstructive Surgery (FGM)

Genital Restorative Therapies & Surgery for Female Genital Mutilation / Cutting:

Female Genital Mutilation / Cutting (FGM) is an ancient tradition of cutting the external genital organs of young girls, it has no health benefits and causes severe physical, functional and psychological harm. It is regarded as a crime against humanity, a violation of human rights. The WHO classifies FGM in four types according to extent of excision.

Women with FGM complications usually feel incomplete and suffer from low body image identity issues, low self-esteem and confidence. Relationship problems may also arise with parents for consenting FGM and an unsatisfied spouse due to sexual problems.

Genital restorative therapies and surgeries have helped many FGM victims reclaim their dignity, self esteem and self confidence, while improving their physical, psychological and sexual quality of life.

Multidisciplinary Approach for FGM Care:

1 - Psycho-sexual counseling & support - الدعم النفسي

Psychological counseling and support, along with sexual education, have be noted to improve self confidence, provide better understanding of genital function, sexuality, and parent and partner relationships..

2- Non-Surgical Regenerative Therapies - علاج غير جراحي

- Platelet Rich Plasma in Clitoral Reconstructive Surgery:

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) clitoral injection contains growth factors which increases clitoral blood flow, regenerates damaged nerves and stimulates regional stem cells . It also improves healing, clitoral sensitivity and enhances sexual function after surgery.

- Exosomes, growth factors, carboxytherapy, vaginal moisturizers, and other regenerative therapies help improve orgasmic capacity and sexual function

- Energy Based Devices:

Improve clitoral blood supply and nerve function by their photo-thermal effect.

3- Restorative Surgeries - جراحات ترميمية و تقويمية

- De-infibulation (Pharaonic infibulation - Type III الختان الفرعوني )

Infibulation, is an African tradition of cutting and suturing the labia minora and majora together on both sides, creating a skin bridge covert most of the vaginal opening.

De-fibulation (cutting the skin bridge) is required before child delivery, vaginal surgery, and sometimes before marriage. It is a simple procedure performed under local anesthesia, takes about 30 - 40 minutes

Women with Pharaonic circumcision (type III) describe cosmetic and functional improvements after a de-dibulation procedure.

- Clitoral Reconstructive Surgery (CRS) after FGM/C ترميم البظر

The clitoris is an 8 -10 cm organ, most of it is located buried within the body, only a small portion (glans & body) is felt by touch and is amputated during circumcision.

Clitoral Reconstructive Surgery: improves sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm intensity, and pain reduction, by removing peri-clitoral fibrosis, thus making the clitoris more sensitive and accessible to stimulation.

This highly specialized surgery together with several Non-Surgical Therapies, improve clitoral blood flow and nerve fiber regeneration. Marked psycho-sexual improvement has also been noted to enhance self esteem, self confidence, partner relationship and quality of life. It may take several months to manifest improvement.

- Labia Minora Reconstruction & Clitoral Hood after FGM - تقويم شفرات جديدة

We described a new technique for labia minora reconstruction (LMR), even after complete labia minora amputation from the vulva, for botched overcorrection labia minora plasty and FGM/C victims.

The therapeutic goal, is to achieve aesthetic refinement of the vulva to resemble normal uncut women, enhance genital appearance, improve sexual function and restore normal anatomy of the labia majora, labia minora, clitoris and clitoral hood. .

Amr Seifeldin, MD