| Type I: Sunna Circumcision "sunna" is the Arabic word for "tradition" |
| Excision of the prepuce with or without excision of part or the entire clitoris. |
| Type II: Clitoridectomy |
| Excision of the prepuce and clitoris together with partial or total excision of the labia minora. |
| Type III: Infibulation/Pharaonic |
| Excision of part or all of the external genitalia and stiching/narrowing of the vaginal opening (infibulation) |
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| The World Health Organization's (WHO's) definition of FGM is this: "FGM constitutes all procedures which involve the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs, whether for cultural or any other non-therapeutic reasons." According to WHO, FGM is separated into the following four categories: |
| Type IV: Unclassified |
| Includes pricking, piercing or incision of clitoris and/or labia; stretching of clitoris and/or labia; cauterization by burning of clitoris and surrounding tissues; scraping ( angurya cuts) of the vaginal orifice or cutting (gishiri cuts) of the vagina. |