Talk about it! Empowerment and Female Genital Mutilation_Cutting

13 Medical care Usually, female babies are circumcised right after they were born or at such a young age that many cannot remember, or the memory is repressed. If you are unsure about yourself being circumcised, suffer pain or other health consequences, are pregnant and unsure if natural childbirth is possible, a doctor‘s appointment (gynaecologist) would be important to talk about your concerns. Not all doctors in Germany are familiar with FGM_C or with how a circumcised vulva looks like. Some women feel discriminated or devaluated due to hurtful comments of doctors. When doctors do not address the circumcision, one gets the feeling of not being treated properly. Withheld information about reconstructive surgery and comments like:“ This can‘t be changed anymore.“ are unacceptable. You are free to choose your doctor and change doctor at any time you are not treated with respect. Help with finding a new doctor is provided by some counselling centres (see appendix).