Free female genital mutilation treatment service

Introduction

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is any procedure that involves the partial or total removal of, or any other injury to, a woman's external genital organs. It is carried out for non-medical reasons. It is estimated that more than 3,780 women and girls between the ages of 15 and 44 in Ireland are affected by the practice. FGM has serious health and psychological consequences. However many long-term effects can be reduced by specialist care at primary care level. GPs should be aware of the possibility of FGM especially when treating women and girls from countries where this practice is prevalent. Click here for a map of African countries in which the practice of FGM is prevalent.

New free FGM treatment clinic

GPs that have patients who have undergone female genital mutilation can now refer them to a new dedicated clinic recently opened in The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA), Everywoman Centre in Dublin city centre. The opening of this clinic will ensure that there is a clear pathway of care available for women and girls who have undergone FGM.

The clinic provides free specialised medical care and counselling to women who have undergone FGM. At the clinic, women will be assessed by a GP with expertise in this area. And they will be able to avail of free counselling, If indicated, they will be referred on to Dr Maeve Eoghan, Consultant Gynaecologist, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin.

Women can be referred by any health care worker and women can self-refer. Appointments can be made by calling or texting a dedicated phone number 085 877 1342. Alternatively, women can visit a drop-in clinic held each Wednesday in the Everywoman Centre, 5/7 Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin 1. Clinic times and dates are updated monthly on this webpage.

The FGM Treatment Service is supported by HSE National Social Inclusion and AkiDwA - the Migrant Women's Network.

Patient Information leaflets

Patient information leaflets about the service are available to download here on the IFPA website. Hard copies of the leaflet can be ordered directly from IFPA head office by calling 01 607 4456 or emailing post@ifpa.ie.

Further reading

For GPs interested in reading more about FGM, here is a useful link:

1. Female Genital Mutilation. Information for Healthcare professionals working in Ireland. Akidwa. 2^nd Edition 2013