Explore the vast range of titles available.

Medical professionals usually reject critiques of deferrable treatments that alter the sex characteristics of infants and children without personal informed consent on the grounds that intersex adults’ experiences reflect ‘obsolete’ practice. However, past practice is also protected from criticism by claiming ‘good intentions’, a commitment to the child’s best interest and context-dictated constraints on medical practice. I first examine foundational literature of the Optimal Gender Policy to verify the presence of statements of interests or motives, I then collect affect displays to identify motives, and I observe attitudes to clitoridectomy. Affect displays point to motives that are relevant in interpretive sociology, as they allow access to cultural or institutional dispositions when justification talk has not been provided. While a statement of interest is absent from the foundational literature, I identify the following affect displays: (1) unease and disgust; (2) attachment to heteronormativity, as well as three kinds of gratification or pleasure rewards; (3) power pleasure; (4) surgical pleasure; (5) and cosmetic pleasure. As surgical action appeases some of these affects and nourish others, previous medical professionals had interests that were their own and not centred on the children. Examination of attitudes to clitoridectomy reveals that clinicians were aware of the (phallo)clitoris’ importance to sexual pleasure but dismissed it, further invalidating claims that past practice was based on children’s best interest.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) refers to alteration of the external genitalia of girls without medical benefit. It is estimated by United Nations agencies that 200 million living girls and women have been subjected to different forms of FGM worldwide. Despite the criminalization of the procedure in the vast majority of countries where it is practiced, the decline in the incidence of this ritual is far from satisfactory. Immediate and long-term ill effects are well documented. Most publications of relevance originate from countries outside the map of FGM. In addition, there are major gaps in research related to this issue, considering the magnitude of the problem. International medical organizations and societies should assume their responsibility by providing a platform to professionals engaged in the prevention and treatment of the consequences of FGM, especially those living in the communities where the practice is endemic.

Das medizinische Wissen über die bis heute verbreitete weibliche Genitalverstümmelung reicht bis in die Antike zurück. Zeitgleich mit der „Wiederentdeckung“ der weiblichen Genitalien um 1550 fließen in anatomische Texte Informationen über Klitoridektomie und Infibulation ein. Dabei werden neben klassischen Quellen auch Reiseberichte aufmerksam rezipiert. Terminologische Ambiguitäten kennzeichnen diese Beschreibungen von Morphologie und Physiologie der pudenda. Vorliegende Rekonstruktionsarbeit erschließt bisher fragmentarisch erforschte Quellen und Diskurse. Sie zeigt, wie die ärztliche Akzeptanz mutilierender ‚Korrekturen‘ der Pudenda vorherrschend war und kommt zu dem Schluss, dass medizinisch und moralisch begründete Kritik eine bereits im 17. Jh. in Vergessenheit geratene Ausnahme darstellt. Medical knowledge about female genital mutilation, a practice still widespread today, dates back to antiquity. Coinciding with the “rediscovery” of female genitalia, information about clitoridectomy and infibulation began circulating in anatomical texts from around 1550 onwards. In addition to classical sources, traveller’s reports are also carefully consulted here. Terminological ambiguities typify these descriptions of the morphology and physiology of the pudenda. This study discloses and pieces together sources and discourses that have previously only been studied as fragments, thereby tracing the prevailing acceptance among physicians of mutilating ‘corrections’ of the pudenda. It concludes that medically and morally based criticism of such practices was an exception that by the 17th century had been all but forgotten

Das medizinische Wissen über die bis heute verbreitete weibliche Genitalverstümmelung reicht bis in die Antike zurück. Zeitgleich mit der „Wiederentdeckung“ der weiblichen Genitalien um 1550 fließen in anatomische Texte Informationen über Klitoridektomie und Infibulation ein. Dabei werden neben klassischen Quellen auch Reiseberichte aufmerksam rezipiert. Terminologische Ambiguitäten kennzeichnen diese Beschreibungen von Morphologie und Physiologie der pudenda. Vorliegende Rekonstruktionsarbeit erschließt bisher fragmentarisch erforschte Quellen und Diskurse. Sie zeigt, wie die ärztliche Akzeptanz mutilierender ‚Korrekturen‘ der Pudenda vorherrschend war und kommt zu dem Schluss, dass medizinisch und moralisch begründete Kritik eine bereits im 17. Jh. in Vergessenheit geratene Ausnahme darstellt. Medical knowledge about female genital mutilation, a practice still widespread today, dates back to antiquity. Coinciding with the “rediscovery” of female genitalia, information about clitoridectomy and infibulation began circulating in anatomical texts from around 1550 onwards. In addition to classical sources, traveller’s reports are also carefully consulted here. Terminological ambiguities typify these descriptions of the morphology and physiology of the pudenda. This study discloses and pieces together sources and discourses that have previously only been studied as fragments, thereby tracing the prevailing acceptance among physicians of mutilating ‘corrections’ of the pudenda. It concludes that medically and morally based criticism of such practices was an exception that by the 17th century had been all but forgotten

Female genital cutting affects over 140 million women worldwide. Prevalent in certain countries of Africa and the Middle East, the practice continues among immigrants to industrialized countries. Female genital cutting is a deeply rooted tradition that confers honor on a woman and her family, yet also a traumatic experience that creates significant dermatological, gynecological, obstetric and infectious disease complications. Little is known about postmenopausal health in cut women. The international community views this practice as a human rights violation. In addition to genital health complications, the medical community must confront an understudied concern of what happens as this population ages. These challenges must be addressed to provide optimal care to women affected by female genital cutting.

The Female Genital Mutilation Act (2003) in England allows for mental health exceptions for cosmetic surgery resulting from perceived abnormality. Similar legislation exists in other countries. There are no reported cases of clitoridectomy for cosmetic reasons or any discussion in the literature of mental health exceptions to the Act. This is a single case report on a 33-year-old married, heterosexual woman who had already had a cosmetic labiaplasty and was seeking a clitoridectomy for aesthetic reasons. At assessment, there were no psychiatric contra-indications or unrealistic expectations and the patient proceeded with a clitoridectomy. At 9 and 22 months follow-up, she was reassessed and was very pleased with the outcome. There were improvements in the satisfaction with her genital appearance, sexual satisfaction, and quality of life related to body image. Assessments for cosmetic clitoridectomy will continue to be rare, but this case may provide some guidance for practitioners who are confronted with such requests for body modification. However there remains only limited understanding of the motivation for such a request.