Peer-reviewed article
Urological Complications of Female Genital Mutilation: A Case Report of 15 Patients
Mamadou Tidiani Coulibaly, Issa Amadou, Maimouna Traore, Falaye Sissoko, Dramane Cissé ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This retrospective case study examined 15 girls and women treated for urological complications resulting from female genital mutilation at a hospital in Bamako, Mali between 2002 and 2017. The patients ranged in age from 3 months to 35 years, with an average age of 2.5 years. The most common urological problem was acute urine retention, followed by incontinence, frequent urination, and burning sensations. Most cases involved Type III FGM (infibulation), involving clitoridectomy and removal of the labia minora.
Key points
- Acute urine retention was the most frequent urological complication, occurring in 7 of 15 patients
- Type III FGM (infibulation) was the most common type observed in the study population
- Patients presented with diverse ages, from 3 months to 35 years old, indicating complications occur across the lifespan
- Other complications included urinary incontinence, pollakiuria (frequent urination), and burning sensations
- Physical examination revealed clitoridectomy and abrasion of labia minora in 13 of 15 patients
Limitations
This is a small descriptive case series with no comparison group and limited detail on treatment outcomes or long-term follow-up. The document does not provide information on prevalence, risk factors for specific complications, or the effectiveness of surgical interventions.
Abstract
Objective background: This was a retrospective study of the clinical and therapeutic aspects of urological complications of female genital mutilation in the urology department of Bamako’s Gabriel Touré University Hospital. Methods: Our study took place from 2002 to 2017 in the urology department of the Gabriel Touré University Hospital in Bamako and concerned cases of complications of female genital mutilation. Our study included all girls or women presenting with urinary disorders related to complications of genital mutilation and received in urological consultation and surgical management. Results: The average age of our patients was 2.5 years, with extremes ranging from 3 months to 35 years. The oldest patient had presented with dystocia during both deliveries. Acute urine retention (n = 7) was the most frequent reason for consultation. Other signs included urinary incontinence, pollakiuria and burning. Physical examination revealed clitoridectomy and abrasion of the labia minora in 13 patients. Type III of the WHO classification of female genital mutilation was the most frequent and corresponded to infibulation.