(1) Previous smaller studies have suggested that adverse obstetric outcomes such as episiotomy,2 tears,3–5 protracted labour,2,5 post-partum haemorrhage,3,5 and low Apgar score2,5 might be more common in deliveries in women who have had FGM.3,5 However, reliable data about the effect of different types of FGM on specific obstetric outcomes are scarce, since previous studies have inconsistent findings,3,4 rarely account for potential confounding factors,2,5 do not investigate the effects of different types of FGM,2,3,5 and have been based on self-reported obstetric complications.3,4 Previous studies also had insufficient power to examine important outcomes such as stillbirth and early neonatal death.

(2) http://www.who.int/reproductive-health/fgm/

(3) من موقع منظمة الصحة العالمية على الشبكة: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2006/pr30/ar/print.html