SynthesisBMC public health2025
Exploring the health complications of female genital mutilation through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Sexual health interventions for treating sexual dysfunction in women with female genital mutilation: A systematic review.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2026Pooled it
- The Consequences of Female Genital Mutilation on Psycho-Social Well-Being: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Research.Qualitative health research · 2021Pooled it
- Maternal education-related inequality in female genital mutilation/cutting among daughters aged 0-14 years in three East African countries: DHS data from 2016-2022.Global health action · 2026Article
- The PROMISE study: protocol for a community-based cohort study and co-creation of a reproductive health intervention in Somaliland.Global health action · 2026Article
- Understanding barriers to healthcare services utilization among women in Mauritania: a socio-anthropological analysis.International journal for equity in health · 2026Article
- Impact of female genital mutilation on sexual function and psychosocial wellbeing among Somali women: a cross-sectional study.BMC women's health · 2026Observational
- A scoping review of gender-based violence interventions conducted in Afghanistan.International journal for equity in health · 2026Article
- Lived experiences and impacts of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C): a meta-ethnographic synthesis.BMJ public health · 2026Article
- "Frontiers in global women's health · 2026Article
- Delayed Diagnosis of Imperforate Hymen Causing Hematocolpos and Hematometra in an Adolescent with Type II Female Genital Mutilation: A Case Report.International journal of women's health · 2026Article
- Healthcare and community perspectives on female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C): a qualitative study.EClinicalMedicine · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundFemale genital mutilation (FGM) is a harmful practice that affects an estimated 230 million women and girls. Previous research indicates that FGM is associated with increased risk of short- and long-term health complications. Understanding the health complications is important in ensuring high quality care for women and girls already affected and for advocating for prevention of the practice.
objectiveThe objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of all existing evidence on the association between FGM and a range of health complications.
methodsWe conducted a systematic review of the literature on the health complications of FGM published between February 2009 and December 2022, applying search strategies and terms aligned with previous reviews. We identified studies that compared women with various types of FGM versus those without for six domains of health complications (i.e., immediate, obstetric & neonatal, gynecological, urological, sexual and mental). Random effects meta-analysis was conducted by health condition and FGM type. Immediate health complications were analysed separately based on data from population-based surveys.
resultsWe analysed data from 78 studies (n = 486,949), of which 67 informed the meta-analyses comparing women with and without FGM and 11 informed analyses on the immediate health complications. Most of the studies (N = 68) were conducted in high FGM prevalence countries. Among women and girls living with FGM compared to those without, we found an increased risk for obstetric complications, including prolonged/obstructed labor, obstetric tears, caesarean birth, postpartum hemorrhage, episiotomy, fetal distress, extended maternal hospital stay, neonatal asphyxia, and stillbirth/neonatal death; gynecological complications, including genital tissue damage, genitourinary tract infections, and menstrual difficulties; urological complications, including urinary tract infections and difficulty urinating; sexual complications including dyspareunia and sexual dysfunction; and mental health complications including depression or anxiety and somatoform disorder.
conclusionThese results support results from previous research finding an association between FGM and a range of health complications over the life course. This calls for strengthening health systems to provide high-quality care for women and girls at-risk of or affected by FGM and ensuring that FGM prevention and care services are included in essential health service packages.
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