Clinical, Ethical, and Legal Considerations Raised by Self-Reported Genital Mutilation Following Voluntary Cosmetic Labiaplasty

Article Article scientifique Rapport de cas Clinical, Ethical, and Legal Considerations Raised by Self-Reported Genital Mutilation Following Voluntary Cosmetic Labiaplasty eng 2024-12-27 2025-01 author Metaxas Tania 0009-0004-1900-2687 Gynecology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geneva University Hospitals, Boulevard de la Cluse 30, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland. 779068 author Earp Brian D Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Queenstown, Singapore.,Uehiro Oxford Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. author Bader Dina Hossam Independent Expert, Geneva, Switzerland. 632228 author Ghasemi Sotoudeh Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 857346 author Solari Moran Milena Eloise Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 851963 author Abdulcadir Jasmine 0000-0001-6245-9181 Gynecology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geneva University Hospitals, Boulevard de la Cluse 30, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland. jasmine.abdulcadir@hug.ch.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. jasmine.abdulcadir@hug.ch. 796507 Département de Pédiatrie, Gynécologie et Obstétrique (PETRI) 399-415 10.1007/s10508-024-03058-2 39730955 0004-0002 PMC11782373 https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10508-024-03058-2 An increasing number of women are undergoing female genital cosmetic surgery (FGCS). Labiaplasty, the most commonly performed FGCS, consists of a surgical procedure to decrease the inner labia size so that no or less tissue protrudes beyond the outer labia. Anatomically, it is similar to female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) Type 2a. Thus, what are the differences and similarities between FGCS and FGM/C? Even though FGCS is not recommended by most scientific societies, it is considered legal, contrary to FGM/C. Most women seeking FGCS have physiologic (neither diseased nor anatomically atypical) genitalia and are reassured by counseling. We recommend counseling, history taking, screening for relevant conditions, and, if surgery is pursued, medical care by a specialist. We present the cases of three patients who reported feeling genitally mutilated after having willingly undergone FGCS. This feeling led these women to seek care at an outpatient clinic that receives migrants, refugees, second-generation, or naturalized patients originating mainly from African countries having experienced FGM/C. We discuss clinical implications, health insurance coverage, legal, ethical, and social implications. Multiple unresolved issues must be carefully addressed by scientific societies, legislators, and anti-FGM/C advocates to ensure equal treatment of all individuals in relation to genital cutting or surgery. Genital modifications experienced as harmful, or that are performed without informed consent, should be studied in relationship to one another and evaluated with consistent principles, regardless of the skin color of the individuals concerned, their cultural, ethnic, or religious background, or the name given to the genital modification they underwent. Female genital cosmetic surgery Female genital mutilation Female genital mutilation/cutting Informed consent Labiaplasty Circumcision, Female / ethics Circumcision, Female / legislation & jurisprudence Circumcision, Female / psychology Female Humans Plastic Surgery Procedures / ethics Self Report Vulva / surgery Dewey 618 58 Département de pédiatrie, gynécologie et obstétrique 223 false 1450 Vulve, clitoris et violences sexuelles 1067 Archives of sexual behavior 54 1 166747d6-ca7a-4657-b94a-98dca7a7bcd8 Article (Published version) Public Article_scientifique_from_unpaywall.pdf 1855738 application/pdf CC BY-4.0 3836a84745bb3e3093a3c9ece81d16053dc24df0bc83b4c6b1900f9a8b436b4d openAccess Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de pédiatrie, gynécologie et obstétrique

Title	Published in	Year	Views	Downloads

Clinical, Ethical, and Legal Considerations Raised by Self-Reported Genital Mutilation Following Voluntary Cosmetic Labiaplasty	Archives of sexual behavior	2025	43	505
The Crucial Role of Midwives in Preventing Maternal Sepsis: It All Started in a Maternity Ward	Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health	2020	276	79

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Ghasemi, Sotoudeh