Genital modification and mutilation

Genital modification and genital mutilation both can refer to permanent or temporary changes to the human genitals.

When genital alterations are used for punishment, typically for rape, adultery or other socially forbidden sexual practices, such modifications have included castration (actual or chemical) or penectomy.

Circumcision

Female

Main article: Female genital cutting

The female equivalent to a circumcision is a labiadectomy. This means removing the labia major, minor, or both. Along with the clitoral hood, these all make up the female foreskin. A clitoradectomy, in contrast, can not be compared to a male circumcision.

This consists of removal and/or surgery of various parts of the female genitals, typically one or more of removal of the clitoral hood (Clitoridotomy), removal of the clitoris (Clitoridectomy) and sewing up the vagina (Infibulation). When performed on female minors these procedures can be highly controversial.

Male

Main article: Male circumcision

The removal of the foreskin for religious, social, or medical reasons (for phimosis or to prevent urinary tract infections, for example). In the west, there is sometimes controversy over this procedure when performed on male minors for reasons other than immediate therapeutic need.[1]

Elective genital alteration

In some cases, people elect to have their genitals pierced, tattooed or otherwise altered for aesthetic or other reasons.

Such modifications run the gamut from single to multiple piercings, small decorative marks to complete tattooing, urethral relocation, and, in males, subincision or even complete bisection.

Female genital modification surgery

Female genital enhancement surgery includes laser resurfacing of the labia to remove wrinkles and clitoral repositioning for those not achieving optimum stimulation as well as labiaplasty and vaginal tightening.

A designer vagina is a cosmetic surgery procedure and the result of that procedure. The procedure is also known as labiaplasty (a reduction of the labia minora, the flaps of skin which form the lips of a woman's genitalia and cover the clitoris and vaginal opening) and vaginal tightening (involving surgery on the interior of the vaginal vault). It is a type of genital modification.

Types of genital alteration

The procedures listed below are different examples of genital alterations. Any of these changes may be considered to be modifications or mutilations by some groups of people. Some of these changes, in particular male circumcision, are not considered by other groups to be mutilations.

Removal of tissue

Male

• Circumcision
  • Posthectomy
  • Frenectomy
• Castration
  • Orchidectomy
• Penectomy

Female

• Circumcision
  • Clitoridotomy
  • Clitoridectomy
  • Infibulation
• Labiaplasty
• Vaginectomy

Sex Reassignment

• Penile inversion

Alteration of tissue

Male

• Dorsal slit
• Preputial infibulation
• Preputioplasty [2]
• Genital piercing
• Genital bisection
• Subincision
• Meatotomy
• Penis enlargement
• Autocircumcision [3]
• Surgical foreskin restoration

Female

• Genital piercing
• Episiotomy
• Vagina tightening and toning
• Hymenorrhaphy
• Hymenotomy

Sex Reassignment

• Colovaginoplasty
• Metoidioplasty

Addition to tissue

Male

• Foreskin restoration
• Pearling
• Genital tattooing
• Silicone injection (between the skin of the penis shaft and the tissues that engorge with blood during an erection)

Female

• Genital tattooing
• Labia elongation [4]

Sex Reassignment

• Phalloplasty

See also

• Bioethics of neonatal circumcision
• Sterilization
• Docking
• Breast ironing

External links

• "New study shows female genital mutilation exposes women and babies to significant risk at childbirth" - World Health Organization study finds strong correlation between female genital mutilation and higher death rates for women and babies
• "US also practices genital mutilation" - editorial by opponent of male circumcision
• Genital Mutilation at Curlie.
• "Genital Mutilation American Style" - opinion article by opponent of male circumcision.
• Episiotomy: Ritual Genital Mutilation in Western Obstetrics - Information on routine episiotomies
• On Line Body Modification Magazine/Site. Photos, details, history, everything. WARNING - adults only. Very graphic.
• Salon He calls designer vagina surgery "Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation (LVR) to tighten her vagina and enhance sexual gratification and Designer Laser Vaginoplasty (DLV) to aesthetically modify her labia."
• Sydney Morning Herald "Designer vaginas are now on offer" ... "including restoring hymens, vaginal rejuvenation, repairing damage from giving birth, liposuction and labial reconstruction."
• [5] Harvard International Review Article on FGM in Africa
• Rotten Warning: adults only. Graphic site. "The only real difference between these new designer vaginas and more traditional modifications is technology and advertising."
• Guardian "The new nose job: designer vaginas"
• MGMbill.org Proposed legislation to regulate circumcision of boys under the age of 18