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Addressing FGM with Multidisciplinary Care. The Experience of the Belgian Reference Center CeMAViE

  • Sociocultural Issues and Epidemiology (J Abdulcadir and C Johnson-Agbakwu, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Sexual Health Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

To describe the multidisciplinary approach of the Brussels-based referral center, one of the two centers for women living with female genital mutilation (FGM) in Belgium. This approach is contextualized and compared to the latest literature on the subject.

Recent Findings

According to the World Health Organization, women who have undergone FGM should be able to benefit from multidisciplinary care. Clitoral reconstructive surgery appears to be a crucial but controversial element of this holistic treatment; its long-term benefits and role in sexual satisfaction are still the focus of many questions.

Summary

Clitoral reconstructive surgery has been reimbursed by Belgian social security since 2014 only in conjunction with multidisciplinary care. In our referral center, the care is provided by a gynecologist, a midwife, a psychotherapist, and a sexologist. Five preoperative consultations are mandatory to obtain the refund. CeMaVie’s first line of treatments is non-surgical therapies.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CeMAViE, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saint-Pierre University Hospital, 322 rue Haute, 1000, Brussels, Belgium

    Martin Caillet, Sarah O’Neill & Fabienne Richard

  2. LAMC, Department of Sociology, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium

    Sarah O’Neill

  3. Laboratory of Human Reproduction, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Belgium

    Anne-Frédérique Minsart

Authors
  1. Martin Caillet
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  2. Sarah O’Neill
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  3. Anne-Frédérique Minsart
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  4. Fabienne Richard
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Martin Caillet.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Sociocultural Issues and Epidemiology

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Caillet, M., O’Neill, S., Minsart, AF. et al. Addressing FGM with Multidisciplinary Care. The Experience of the Belgian Reference Center CeMAViE. Curr Sex Health Rep 10, 44–49 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-018-0145-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-018-0145-6

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