The Use of Reconstructive Surgery for Sexually Mutilated Women at the University Hospitals of Strasbourg

Use of Reconstructive Surgery for Women Consulting in Sexology at the University Hospitals of Strasbourg for Sexual Mutilation

Despite awareness since the 1980s and a legal framework to punish sexual mutilation, this tradition continues in many countries, particularly in Africa but not only in the Middle East, Malaysia and Indonesia. This custom, carried out among increasingly young little girls, exposes them to infectious, hemorrhagic and even death risks and sometimes significant obstetric complications.

Every year, 3 million girls and young women are sexually mutilated around the world, or one woman every 15 seconds.

In recent years, a surgical repair technique has been created by a French urologist, Professor Foldès. This technique allows clitoral reconstruction. Sensory reacquisition after this intervention may take a few months, but the functional results are quite good.

There is little or no data concerning the use of reconstructive surgery for these mutilated patients consulting in sexology and the future of patients post-operatively or who have not had recourse to reconstructive surgery. The investigators then questioned the decision of these patients and their future.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult woman (≥18 years old)
• having consulted sexology at the HUS for sexual mutilation between 01/01/2011 and 12/31/2021.
• having had clitoral repair surgery at the HUS between 01/01/2011 and 12/31/2021
• not objecting, after information, to the reuse of their data for the purposes of this research

Exclusion Criteria:

• Woman who expressed her opposition to participating in the study
• impossibility of providing the subject with informed information (difficulties in understanding the subject, etc.)
• Woman under judicial protection or under guardianship or curatorship.