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. Typically, female genital mutilation occurs in countries located in Africa, traditionally to welcome young girls into adulthood.

Circumcision

Female

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

Male

The removal of the foreskin for religious, social, aesthetic, or medical reasons (for phimosis or to reduce the chances of urinary tract infections, for example).

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 examples of genital alterations. Any of these changes may be considered modifications or mutilations by different groups of people.

Types of genital alteration

Kind	Removal of tissue	Alteration of tissue	Addition to tissue
Male	Circumcision Posthectomy Frenectomy Castration Orchidectomy Penectomy	Dorsal slit Preputial infibulation Preputioplasty [1] Genital piercing Genital bisection Subincision Meatotomy Penis enlargement Autocircumcision [2] Surgical foreskin restoration	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	Circumcision Clitoridotomy Clitoridectomy Infibulation Labiaplasty Vaginectomy	Genital piercing Episiotomy Vagina tightening and toning Hymenorrhaphy Hymenotomy	Genital tattooing Labia elongation [3]
Sex Reassignment	Penile inversion	Colovaginoplasty Metoidioplasty	Phalloplasty

See also

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

External links

• Clitoraid
• "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 the Open Directory Project .
• "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."
• [4] 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 18fi:Naisten sukupuolielinten silpominen