Lived experiences of women with female genital mutilation/cutting: a qualitative study

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a traumatic event and a form of gender-based violence that affects women subjected to it, often leading to lifelong health problems. Understanding the lived experiences of these women can help healthcare professionals provide appropriate support services. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of Iranian women who have undergone FGM/C. This interpretive phenomenological study was conducted in Piranshahr, Iran. Data were collected using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 15 women who had undergone FGM/C from September 2023 to May 2024. The participants were selected via snowball sampling, continuing until data saturation. The data were analyzed using Diekelmann’s approach using MAXQDA software version 2010. Three main themes with seven subthemes emerged from the data analysis. These themes included perceptions of FGM/C, living with health consequences, and ambivalence about FGM/C. Dual perceptions of FGM/C were characterized as both a torturous procedure and a community tradition. The health consequences included physical, psychological and sexual impacts. Ambivalence about FGM/C manifested as both acceptance and refusal. FGM/C can lead to diverse experiences and perceived health outcomes among affected women. Policymakers and healthcare workers should take action to raise awareness, shift attitudes, and ultimately eradicate FGM/C through legal and social reforms.