Growing medicalisation of female circumcision in Asia sparks risk warnings from human rights advocates

In parts of Asia, the practice of female genital mutilation, also known as female genital mutilation (FGM), is increasingly carried out by health professionals such as doctors and trained midwives rather than traditional practitioners.

While this shift reflects parental concerns about safer, more hygienic procedures, it is prompting alarming warnings from advocates who warn that ‘medicalisation’ risks legitimizing and entrenching a harmful practice with no medical benefits.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and UN agencies classify all forms of female circumcision as female circumcision; This is a serious violation of the human rights of women and girls, causing both physical and psychological harm. Female circumcision involves procedures performed for cultural or religious reasons but provides no health advantage. Rather than reducing harm, the involvement of medical professionals can normalize the practice by giving the appearance of medical legitimacy.
Question: What is female circumcision (FGM)?

A: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) involves cutting, injuring or altering the external genitalia of a girl or woman for non-medical reasons. It is usually done before puberty and has no health benefits. Female circumcision can cause severe pain, infections, birth complications, and lasting psychological trauma. It violates human rights and is illegal in many countries

According to World Health Organization and UN reports, more than 230 million girls and women alive today worldwide have undergone some form of female genital mutilation. Despite progress, this procedure remains common in African, Middle Eastern, and some Asian communities where social and cultural pressures continue to apply it. Experts have highlighted complications from FGM, such as long-term health problems that affect women’s sexual desire and their ability to have a normal sexual life afterwards. The involvement of medical professionals in Asia marks a troubling shift from traditional practitioners applying minor needling or needling to more invasive cutting methods. In many communities in Asia, female genital mutilation (FGM) remains a well-established cultural and social practice and is often considered a prerequisite for marriage. The practice is carried out predominantly with parents’ permission, based on the belief that it protects their daughters’ futures and is compatible with long-standing religious traditions.

In many Asian societies, female circumcision is viewed as a vital rite of passage, symbolizing a girl’s transition into womanhood and preparation for marriage. Parents often justify this procedure by believing that they are acting in their child’s best interest (protecting their morals, securing their virginity, or complying with community standards). In some societies, uncut girls are considered unfit for marriage.

Divya Srinivasan, a global leader on ending harmful practices at Equality Now, emphasizes that “the medicalization of female circumcision is actually really harmful,” South China Morning Post reported. He explains that while families may choose doctors or midwives over traditional GPs to avoid unsterilized instruments or due to the disappearance of traditional practitioners, there is no reliable evidence that having health professionals perform FGM reduces harm. Instead, it reinforces acceptance of the practice and makes efforts to eliminate it more difficult.

The move towards medicalization is driven in part by parental concerns about safety, hygiene and procedural standards, particularly as traditional circumcision becomes less common. However, experts argue that all forms of female circumcision, regardless of the qualifications of the performer, lead to violations of fundamental rights and health risks. Medicalization therefore risks giving a false sense of security and may hinder global campaigns aimed at the complete eradication of FGM.

Campaigns and policy efforts to end female genital mutilation continue globally. WHO, UNICEF and other organizations have highlighted the urgent need to reject both traditional and medicalized forms of this practice. The consensus remains that female circumcision has no health benefits and is a serious human rights violation.

In Asian contexts where FGM practices persist, advocacy groups emphasize education, community participation, and policy implementation as critical tools in combating FGM. The rise of medicalization underscores the complexity of addressing deep-rooted cultural norms while balancing immediate health risks.

The growing trend of medicalization in Asia highlights the need for strengthened international cooperation, local advocacy, and clear policies prohibiting health workers from performing female genital mutilation to protect the rights and health of girls and women.