title: Female circumcision: Limiting the harm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the strength of evidence that links many health hazards to female genital cutting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature search in Medline/Pubmed and Google scholar.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Female genital cutting is still practiced secretly in both underdeveloped and developed countries due to prevailing strong traditional beliefs. There is insufficient evidence to support the claims that genital cutting is a harmful procedure if performed by experienced personnel in a suitable theatre with facilities for pain control and anesthesia. Cutting, however, is advised not to go beyond type I.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Law makers around the globe are invited to review the legal situation in relation to female genital cutting. Proper counseling of parents about possible risks is a must in order to make informed decision about circumcising their daughters. The procedure should be offered to parents who insist on it; otherwise, they will do it illegally, exposing their daughters to possible complications.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine-Menofyia University, Shibin Elkom, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kandil