Sexual Function in Adolescents and Women from Southern Iran with and Without Genital Mutilation

Background: Female genital mutilation (FGM)/circumcision is an essential public health issue, especially in some developing countries, including Iran. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of FGM on the sexual function of reproductive-age women in Hormozgan Province, Iran. Methods: This case-control study was conducted among married reproductive-age women (15–49) in Hormozgan Province, Iran, from September to December 2020. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), descriptive statistics (e.g., means, standard deviations, t-test, and chi-square test), and the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test were used for data collection. The data were analyzed using SPSS 16 (P<0.05). Results: All the mutilated women had undergone type I mutilation. There was a significant difference between mutilated (n=110) and non-mutilated (n=99) women in the total mean score of the FSFI (22.18±3.23 and 23.41±2.52, respectively, P=0.023). The mean scores of the lubrication, orgasm, and sexual satisfaction were 3.04±0.62 vs. 3.3±0.53 (P<0.001), 3.81±0.63 vs. 4.08±0.47 (P=0.003), and 5.09±0.1 vs. 5.37±0.87 (P=0.017) in mutilated and non-mutilated, respectively. However, no significant difference was found in the two groups in terms of desire, arousal, or pain (P>0.05). Conclusion: FGM had a clinical effect on sexual function. Although a statistically significant difference was observed in the total mean score of sexual function and the lubrication, orgasm, and sexual satisfaction domains, the FSFI was less than the cutoff point in both mutilated and non-mutilated women. Accordingly, sexual counseling should be performed for all women in developing countries. The results are applied in the field of sexual health.