GPs and health professionals working in maternity, obstetrics, gynaecology, and sexual health are today being asked to take part in new study into Female Genital Mutilation in a bid to better ensure that services to protect women and girls are as effective as possible.
The study aims to increase the Government’s knowledge about women and girls affected by Female Genital Mutilation in England. It will also look at how the training needs of key health professionals could be improved and provide vital information for the development of appropriate sexual and reproductive health services. The findings will inform the forthcoming cross-government strategy on tackling Violence Against Women and Girls.
Female Genital Mutilation, also known as female genital cutting, can cause long-term mental and physical suffering, difficulty in giving birth, infertility and even death. It is illegal in the UK.