Yaşam Kemal Akpak

and 6 more

Objective: This study aims to compare the labor performance, complications and postpartum sexual function of Type 3 Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) pregnant women undergoing deinfibulation with Type 3 FGM/C patients without deinfibulation. Design: Prospective cohort study Setting: Sudan-Turkish Training and Research Hospital Population: Each group consisted of 150 pregnant women diagnosed with Type 3 FGM/C (with and without deinfibulation). Methods: Type 3 FGM/C patients who underwent deinfibulation were compared with Type 3 FGM/C patients who did not undergo deinfibulation in terms of age, parity, obstetric and neonatal outcomes and FSFI scores at three months. Main Outcome Measures: The labor performance, complications and postpartum sexual function of Type 3 FGM/C pregnant women undergoing deinfibulation with Type 3 FGM/C patients without deinfibulation. Results: In our homogeneous Type 3 FGM/C group mainly consisting of primiparous women, it was found that more episiotomy procedures were performed, the second stage of labor was significantly prolonged, and perineal damage was more in the group without deinfibulation. In addition, postpartum hemorrhage and hospitalization of mother and baby were longer in the group without deinfibulation. In the second part of our study, in which we compared the FSFI scores of deinfibulation in the episiotomized subgroup, higher scores were found in all scores in the deinfibulation group. Conclusion: Type 3 FGM/C is definitely associated with poor obstetric and sexual outcomes. Funding information: The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.