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Interventions to Address Sexual Function in Women Affected by Female Genital Cutting: a Scoping Review

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Global migration trends necessitate that health care providers, regardless of location, address sequelae from female genital cutting (FGC). Surgical interventions to treat sexual dysfunction in this population are proliferating despite limited evidence of their impact. We conducted a scoping review to describe interventions to address sexual dysfunction in FGC-affected women.

Recent Findings

Thirty-four citations in four categories of peer-reviewed literature emerged: surgical technique descriptions, case reports, literature reviews, and original research including qualitative analyses, anatomically focused studies and surgical interventions.

Summary

Surgical strategies to address sexual function in FGC-affected women, although promising, are limited by low-quality evidence. FGC-affected women require, but are rarely receiving, multidisciplinary care to address myriad influences on sexual function. Research is needed to clarify the impact of surgical interventions and promising non-surgical strategies including education and counseling.

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Fig. 1

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance•• Of major importance

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge Janice Hermer, Health Sciences Librarian, Arizona State University Libraries, for helping to facilitate the systematic literature search for this scoping review. We would also like to thank Craig Tower for his assistance with the French translations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Refugee Women’s Health Clinic, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maricopa Integrated Health System, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Crista Johnson-Agbakwu

  2. Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Crista Johnson-Agbakwu

  3. Center for International Translational Intervention Research [CITIR], Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center [SIRC], School of Social Work-College of Public Service and Community Solutions, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Crista Johnson-Agbakwu

  4. Department Community Public Health, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, 525 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21210, USA

    Nicole Warren

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  1. Crista Johnson-Agbakwu
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Correspondence to Crista Johnson-Agbakwu.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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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 Female Sexual Dysfunction and Disorders

Crista Johnson-Agbakwu and Nicole Warren share joint first authorship

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Johnson-Agbakwu, C., Warren, N. Interventions to Address Sexual Function in Women Affected by Female Genital Cutting: a Scoping Review. Curr Sex Health Rep 9, 20–31 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-017-0099-0

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