Female circumcision has no effect on sexuality – Gynaecologist

Dr Victor Amamasi, a gynecologist with St. Raphael Hospital, Ago-Okota, Lagos, says female circumcision has no effect on female sexuality and has not stopped women from being promiscuous.
Amamasi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, that a woman’s sexuality was influenced by gene, peer group, sexual orientation, values and environment.
NAN reports that female circumcision is the ritual cutting or removal of some or all the external female genitalia.
Sexuality refers to the way people experience and express themselves sexually; this involves biological, erotic, physical, emotional, social, or spiritual feelings and behaviours; it is different from the act of sexual intercourse.
Amamasi said: “So, my advice for people is that they should stop such practice; it has no effect on female sexuality.
“It does not stop a woman from being a lesbian or homosexual, prostitute, being involved in incest or masturbation.
“Female circumcision reduces a woman’s sexual feeling by only three per cent when compared to an uncircumcised woman.
“A woman’s sexuality is influenced by upbringing, gene, peer group and environment,’’ he said.
Besides, he said that female circumcision could cause other risks including chronic pelvic infections, infiltration (wound) to other organs of the body, genital ulcer, keloid (scar), as well as bleeding which could lead to death.
According to him, female circumcision can also cause painful intercourse, difficulty in passing urine, labia fusion and adhesions, depression, stress and long term Vesico Vagina Fistula (VVF), which could only be corrected through surgery.
Amamasi said there were three types of circumcision.
“One of them is clitoridectomy, which is the partial or total removal of the clitoris.
“Another one is excision, which is the partial or total removal of the clitoris with labia minora (vaginal lips).
“And, the third one is infibulation, suturing or narrowing the entrance of the vagina, leaving space for menstruation flow.
“All these are aimed at destroying a woman’s feelings for sex,’’ he said. (NAN)

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