ty and very dirty. Instead of sterilizing theinstrument between surgeries, it is placed on dirt, ashes, or cow dung. This resultsin many infections. Using the same tool on several girls also promotes the spreadof HIV. Due to loss of blood and pain many girls suffer from shock. Manywomen suffer from pelvic complications. Also urinary retention and urinary tractinfections are common among circumcised women. Due to loss of blood many ofthe girls suffer from week bones, often resulting in fractures and breaks. The lossof the clitoris makes it impossible for the woman to have an orgasm. If the personperforming the surgery-either a mid wife or a barber- has bad eye sight or isunsteady, surrounding organs may be damaged. There are no positive effects toFemale Genital Mutilation.There is no definite origin for FGM, but there is a myth that may havesomething to do with it. The myth is about Lamia, a beautiful seductive woman. Lamia would unite with young warrior men inside a cloud. When the cloudwould lift, Lamia was left standing with a pile of the warriors bones around herfeet. The bones were being gnawed on by a snake. The myth is that duringintercourse, Lamias clitoris ate the young warrior. This myth was knownthroughout the world with only a slight change from culture to culture. This mythmay be what started female circumcision. In conclusion Female Genital Mutilation is sexual abuse. Women who haveexperienced it, live in pain due to what was done to them as a child. Most of thewomen are too afraid of either the men in their culture or changing tradition, thatthey wont speak up against it. No one should have to live in pain and fear alltheir lives....
