| Who, What, When, Where? Frequent Questions Concerning FGM |
| Where is FGM performed? |
| FGM is most often performed in the girl's home or in a home of a relative or neighbor. In modern societies, the girl might visit a health center to go under the knife. Many times, if the circumcision is associated with a rite of passage or initiation, all girls in the community will be cirmumcised under the same tree or by the same river. |
| Who performs the procedure? |
| Many times, the girl's mother will perform the procedure. In other societies, an older woman or traveling midwife will visit the girl at the appointed time. Girls who are lucky enough to be able to visit a health center will most often be operated on in a steril enviironment by a doctor or nurse. |
| What is used to remove the tissue? |
| Mostly sharp unclean instruments are used. Razors, knives, and pieces of shard glass are all examples of the range of objects used. Many times multiple girls will be circumcised with the same tool without proper sterilization, leading to the spread of infections and disease. |
| When is FGM performed? |
| A girl will most often have FGM performed between 4-8 years of age. But anytime before the first pregnancy is desirable. |