Sara Kahsai, who relocated to Birmingham in 2022 after marriage, discovered during early adulthood that she had undergone female genital mutilation as a child in Sudan. The realization prompted her to confront her mother about the procedure, leading to an apology and an explanation that it had been customary practice at the time.
FGM, which involves partial or total removal of female genitalia for non-medical reasons, is practiced in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, and occurs within some migrant communities in the United Kingdom where it is illegal and classified as child abuse. According to the Home Office, World Health Organisation figures indicate three million girls undergo some form of the procedure annually in Africa alone. Common justifications cited include cultural norms, religious beliefs, hygiene misconceptions, and notions of preserving virginity.
When Kahsai became pregnant, she disclosed her history to healthcare providers and was referred to a specialist FGM clinic at Birmingham Women’s Hospital. The clinic, staffed by midwives including Renata Hanif who manages approximately 200 cases yearly, provides comprehensive support addressing both medical and psychological needs. Survivors may experience complications including difficulty with urination and menstruation, increased infection susceptibility, and chronic pain alongside emotional trauma.
The clinic offers deinfibulation, a procedure performed during pregnancy to address fused tissue and facilitate safer delivery. Midwives also provide counseling and guidance on how partners can offer support. The National FGM Centre, established in 2015 by children’s charity Barnardo’s, works on prevention and awareness efforts. Schools are legally required to teach about FGM and related laws as part of sex education, though implementation varies and primary school inclusion remains optional.
Kahsai emphasized that survivors should seek help through their general practitioners, noting that accessing support earlier would have prevented considerable suffering. The government convened its first dedicated FGM Summit in a decade earlier this year to discuss enhanced protections, with new guidelines in development to identify girls at risk of being taken abroad for the procedure.
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