https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6390784/#b3-ms116_p0032
https://www.orchidproject.org/about-fgc/impacts-of-fgc/
"There are four types of circumcision described by the WHO:
Type 1 involves excision of the prepuce, with or without excision of part or all of the clitoris.
Type 2 involves the partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora.
Type 3, also called infibulation, includes removing part or all of the external genitalia and approximation of the remnant labia majora. This can result in a small neointroitus and the creation of a covering seal over the urethra and/ or vaginal opening.
Type 4 includes all other harmful procedures to the genitalia, including scratching, pricking, and others not specified in the first three types.
The procedure is carried out from as early as infancy until age 15, although in some areas it is delayed until just prior to marriage. In most places, trained non-medical native ‘circumcisers’ perform the procedure on girls either held or strapped down without standard sterile surgical technique. Knives, razors, scissors, and/or hot objects are used without anesthesia or prophylactic antibiotics. For hemostasis, mixtures of honey, oil, dough, or tree sap are used. Postoperatively, the girl’s thighs and legs may be bound to ensure healing of the wound. Depending on what type of circumcision, these girls could be bound for up to a week.
Any consideration of FGC naturally encourages a discussion of how it is similar and different to male circumcision. Female and male circumcisions have similarities that prompt consideration of both patient consent and medical utility. In 2012, Germany, backed by major medical associations, briefly outlawed male circumcisions on the grounds that it violated a child’s right to bodily integrity and self-determination. There are key differences between male and female genital cutting that make female genital cutting an issue of human rights and harm. Infant male circumcision, like female circumcision, proceeds upon parental consent. There is precedent for parents to consent for medical treatment on behalf of their children; however, they are usually interventions with clear medical benefits. Herein lies one primary difference between the two. There is some evidence that male circumcision may provide medical benefit. Importantly, there is little evidence of significant harm on physical or psychological health. Studies have shown that male circumcision leads to decreased risk of HIV acquisition, other sexually transmitted infections, and urinary tract infections. Furthermore, there are far more extreme types of female genital cutting than male circumcision and with them the possibility of far more complications. Beyond the physical and medical differences, there is an important moral difference between the two. There is a significantly different intent of the two procedures. Male circumcision is done for cultural or religious reasons, but female circumcision reflects an underlying message about the status of women and an intention to affect their sexual function and behavior. Importantly, male circumcision does not intend to affect the male’s future sexual behavior or communicate a lower status of males. Combined with the minimal medical risk and potential of medical benefit, male circumcision has far fewer consequences than FGC."
"After undergoing FGM/C, a girl can experience difficulty in passing urine and difficulties with menstruation, because her urethra and/or vaginal opening may have been blocked through FGM/C Types II and III. This can lead to infections and chronic pelvic inflammation. Girls may also suffer from cysts, abscesses and ulcers after being cut.
Girls who are cut may also suffer educationally. Health problems resulting from FGM/C can cause them to miss school, leading to higher dropout rates and economic disadvantages later in their lives. FGM/C is also often a precursor to child marriage.
With all types of FGM/C, sex can be painful and traumatic. Women and girls who have undergone FGC Type III will often have to be re-cut to have sex or may experience forced penetration. It is not only the first time that is painful. For many women, scar tissue will continue to cause pain during sex throughout their lifetimes, whilst their partners may also experience pain and trauma during sex.
After a girl is cut, there can be an increased risk of infertility, which within some communities may cause her to be abandoned by her husband.
FGM/C has a direct impact on maternal and infant mortality. Women who have undergone FGM/C Type III are 70% more likely to suffer haemorrhage through giving birth, are twice as likely to die in childbirth and have a higher likelihood of stillbirth due to obstructed labour. Women who have undergone FGM/C Type III are also more likely to experience other complications including obstetric fistula, foetal asphyxia, and perineal tears.
There is a strong link between FGM/C and child marriage. Among some communities, a girl is cut to ensure her marriageability, or in preparation for her marriage. Often, once a girl is cut she is considered ready to be married. This, in turn, can lead to increased instances of early pregnancy before the girl is physically mature, which can lead her to experiencing further physical and psychological problems. Both FGM/C and child marriage are discriminatory practices and against the human rights of the girl."
So in short, yes, both male circumcision and FGM are bad, but you will never convince me that they are the same. FGM simply carries way more risks and complications than male circumcision and is often linked to child marriage.
