Female genital cutting is a practice that up to a million young girls in 28 different countries around the world have done each year. Most of the practicing countries are in Africa but there are some in the Middle East and Asia as well. While these operations are sometimes referred to as female genital mutilation, the term mutilation seems to demonize the practitioners. Cutting however still expresses the seriousness without having to disparage the midwifes. There are three main types of female genital cutting: infibulation, excision, and cliterodectomy. Infibulation is when the clitoris, labia minora, and most of the labia majora are removed and then sewn together, with only a small hole for fluids, to create a smooth look. A cliterodectomy
