Sara Kahsai relocated to Birmingham, England in 2022 after marrying, but subsequently came to realize she had undergone female genital mutilation during childhood in Sudan. The discovery prompted physical and emotional challenges that she struggled to understand initially. She eventually confronted her mother about the procedure, learning it had been performed as part of cultural tradition. Her mother later expressed regret for the decision.
When Kahsai became pregnant, she disclosed her FGM history to healthcare providers and was referred to a specialist clinic at Birmingham Women’s Hospital. The facility treats approximately 200 cases annually and offers deinfibulation, a procedure that separates fused tissue to facilitate safer childbirth. According to clinic midwife Renata Hanif, FGM survivors may experience complications including difficulty with urination and menstruation, increased infection risks, and psychological effects such as anxiety and depression. The clinic provides counseling and education to help women understand the medical and personal implications of their experiences.
FGM, which involves partial or total removal of female genitalia for non-medical reasons, is practiced in some African, Middle Eastern, and Asian regions and within certain migrant communities in the UK, where it remains illegal. The World Health Organisation estimates that three million girls undergo some form of the procedure annually in Africa alone. The National FGM Centre, established by children’s charity Barnardo’s in 2015, works to prevent FGM and support affected individuals. Schools are required to teach pupils about FGM and relevant laws as part of relationships and sex education curricula, though delivery varies and primary schools are not currently mandated to include it.
The government convened its first dedicated FGM Summit in a decade in April to discuss protective measures. Planned improvements include new guidelines to identify girls at risk of being taken abroad for the procedure. Kahsai has publicly encouraged other survivors to seek help through their general practitioners, emphasizing that support services are available in the UK.
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