Prevalence of female genital mutilation in the United States between 2016 and 2022

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) encompasses medically unnecessary procedures involving the partial or total removal of external genitalia, causing lasting physical and psychological harm. While most prevalent in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, FGM/C has been increasingly documented in Western countries due to global migration. Despite this, national epidemiological data on FGM/C in the United States (US) are not available. We aimed to assess the epidemiology of FGM/C in the US using nationally representative inpatient data. We conducted repeated cross-sectional analyses of national hospital discharge data (2016–2022) from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample to identify hospitalizations with an FGM/C diagnosis, calculating rates per 10,000 pregnancy-related hospitalizations and stratifying by subtype, age, race, and hospital census division. Between 2016 and 2022, 8680 hospitalizations document an FGM/C diagnosis, averaging 3.16 diagnoses per 10,000 pregnancy-related hospitalizations. Unspecified FGM/C diagnoses account for 55.3% of admissions, followed by Type III (infibulation, 17.1%) and Type II (excision, 14.5%). Across FGM/C subtypes, rates are highest among patients aged 20-39 (90.3%) and among Black females (72.1%). Regional variation is observed across US hospital census divisions; the rate of FGM/C is highest in the West North Central division (15.97 diagnoses per 10,000 pregnancy-related hospitalizations). These findings provide a nationally representative longitudinal assessment of clinically documented FGM/C diagnoses in US inpatient data and underscore the importance of culturally informed, trauma-sensitive healthcare for a population with distinct and underrecognized clinical needs. Female genital mutilation/cutting involves removing parts of the external genitalia. It is most common in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, but also affects women in the United States. Until now, there are no national figures on how often this practice is documented in US hospital settings. We searched inpatient data in the US from 2016 to 2022 to identify cases where female genital mutilation/cutting is observed, and examined patterns by type, age, race, and region. A total of 8680 cases are identified, mostly among Black women aged 20 to 39 during pregnancy care. In over half of cases, the specific type is not recorded. This points to gaps in clinical workflows, healthcare provider training, and awareness. Affected women require care that is respectful, sensitive, and culturally aware.