Ahlam Mohammed Ibrahim Gouda^1,, Eman A. Fadel¹

Background: Female circumcision is a major public health problem, especially in developing countries. Aim:This study aimed to compare of sexual function between circumcised and non-circumcised women at reproductive age. Design: A descriptive cross sectional design was utilized to conduct this study. Setting: The present study conducted at Family Planning Unit, Mansoura University Hospital, Egypt. Sample: A convenient sample of two hundred healthy married women at their reproductive age who are sexually active for the previous six months, either circumcised or not, who attended to the previous setting for utilization of family planning services from the beginning of July to the end of December 2018. Tools: Data were collected through I: Interviewing schedule to assess socio-demographic characteristics of the married women. II: Arabic version of Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire to assess women’s sexual function and dysfunction. Results: Total mean score of FSFI for the circumcised women (21.69 ±5.7) was lesser than the total mean score of FSFI for the non- circumcised women (29.12 ±4.54) with a highly statistically significant difference. Conclusion:Based on the study finding, there was a difference between circumcised and non-circumcised women’s sexual function, wheremajority of the circumcised women had sexual dysfunction according to FSFI compared to only one- third of the non- circumcised women who had sexual dysfunction. Recommendation: Raising awareness of parents about the health consequences of female genital mutilation on their daughter future sexual health via periodical community projects.

circumcision, female genital mutilation, sexuality, sexual function and dysfunction