On this page...
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the partial to total removal of a girl’s external genitalia, or any other injury to the female genitalia. Other names for FGM include female genital cutting, female circumcision, and there are many other names specific to different communities.
Worldwide, at least 200 million girls and women have undergone female genital cutting/mutilation (FGC/M). In the UK more than 30,000 women and girls have had FGC/M. There are no health benefits of FGC/M, and it can have long-term effects on physical and emotional health. FGC/M is a violation of a child’s rights and is illegal in the UK.
The UCLH children’s FGC/M clinic provides specialist paediatric, gynaecological and psychological care for children and adolescents who have undergone or are at risk of FGC/M. We accept referrals to our dedicated monthly clinic from health professionals, social care, as well as self-referrals.
The clinic also offers a second opinion service on video recordings of genital examinations, from clinicians working in other services where FGC/M is suspected.
- You may be unsure if your child has undergone FGC/M and would like to know if they have.
- You may want more information about how FGC/M could affect your child and whether there is any lasting health problems which may need treatment.
- Social services or the police may have made the referral because of concerns that your child may have had FGC/M.
At the clinic you will meet our team:
- Dr Sakaria Ali, consultant paediatrician
- Miss Hazel Learner, consultant paediatric and adolescent gynaecologist
- Louise Perry, clinical nurse specialist
- Claudia de Campos, child and adolescent psychotherapist.
Coming to see us is a good opportunity for us to talk to you and your child about their health. The doctors will ask about your child’s health and development, your home and family, and why you have come to the clinic. There will also be an opportunity for you to speak to the doctor separately. We welcome you bringing someone else, such as a close friend or family member, along to the appointment, to help support you.
We understand that parents and children may be worried about what will happen during an examination and what a genital (private parts) examination involves.
The doctors might do a general examination of your child’s whole body (e.g. chest, for lungs and heart), abdomen (tummy) and genitalia. In our experience, it helps that a child is aware to expect an examination. You may, or may not, have decided to share with your child the concerns around FGC/M.
Only the outside of the genitals will be examined. This means that there will be no internal, vaginal or speculum examination. Your child will be asked to remove the clothes from the lower part of her body (e.g. underwear, trousers, leggings). They will be asked to sit on the examination couch in a 'frog leg' position with a sheet covering their lower half.
A special camera called a colposcope is used to look at the genital area. This shines bright light on the skin and can also magnify any scars or other findings. The examination findings can be saved as a picture or video. The doctors will ask you for your consent to save these files as part of their medical record. We will never do an examination against your child’s will and we will stop if your child becomes upset. Older children and adolescents are able to decide themselves whether or not they want to be examined.
We try to make the experience of attending the clinic as comfortable as possible. We have a play specialist and children’s nurse to help explain to your child what will happen during the appointment and prepare them for this. We understand coming to hospitals can be stressful.
You, and your child, will have the time to discuss any concerns with our specialist psychotherapist afterwards. The psychotherapist is here to listen and help with any concerns and worries you or your child may have.
We will send you a copy of the medical report. We will also share this medical report with the GP and other referrers, including social care teams. All children under 18 years of age with confirmed FGC/M must have disclosure reported in the FGM enhanced dataset.
Most families only need to see the team once, but some children and families find a follow-up appointment helpful. The team will speak with you about this when they see you in clinic.
If you know you are unable to attend the appointment, please contact the administrative team so they can reschedule the appointment for you (refer to the contact information on this page). If your child is not brought to their appointment, this will be shared with your GP and the professional who referred your child to the clinic. If your child has an allocated social worker they will also be informed.
NHS Choices: FGM services
Forward Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development: www.forwarduk.org.uk/violence-against-women-and-girls/female-genital-mutilation
Barnardo’s Charity: Female genital mutilation (FGM)
NHS Digital: Patients - your FGM information and how we use it
Where is the clinic?
The clinic is in paediatric outpatients. This is on the lower ground floor (one floor down from where you come in) in the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing.
Contact details
Louise Perry, Clinical Nurse Specialist
Email: uclh.
UCLH switchboard: 020 3456 7890.
Page last updated: 16 September 2024
Review due: 03 May 2027