The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines female genital mutilation (FGM) as “all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural or other non-therapeutic reasons.”
The technical descriptions of the different types of female genital mutilation known to be practised are as follows:
WHO Technical Classification of Female Genital Mutilation
| Type I | Excision of the prepuce, with or without excision of part or all of the clitoris |
| Type II | Excision of the clitoris with partial or total excision of the labia minora. |
| Type III | Excision of part or all of the external genitalia and stitching/narrowing of the vaginal opening (infibulation) |
| Type IV | Unclassified: includes pricking, piercing or incising of the clitoris and/or labia; stretching of the clitoris and/or labia; cauterisation by burning of the clitoris and surrounding tissue; scraping of tissue surrounding the vagina (gishiri cuts); introduction of corrosive substances or herbs into the vagina to cause bleeding or for the purposes of tightening or narrowing it; and any other procedure that falls under the definition of female genital mutilation given above. |
Source: WHO. Female Genital Mutilation; Report of a WHO Technical Working Group. Geneva: 1996.
Many other terms are used to describe FGM, the most common being female circumcision (FC) and female genital cutting (FGC). The use of these terms is discouraged, particularly the term FC as it is anatomically incorrect and provides a misleading analogy with male circumcision. FGM is an appropriate term for medical use and the recommended term for use at policy level as defined by WHO.
When working with communities affected by FGM however, the term female genital mutilation may cause offence and should generally be avoided. When referring to FGM, it is more appropriate to use terms that women and their families are familiar with.