It is estimated that around 100 million women are excised (Toubia 1994,712). Female circumcision or female genital mutilation or female genital mutilation, as it is also called, is a very important issue that deserves a lot of attention and understanding. Female circumcision is closely linked to women's sexuality and reproductive roles, which is why it has strong cultural significance for those who undergo the procedure (Toubia 1994,712). This practice is practiced in various cultural and ethnic groups (Toubia 1994,712). For change to occur, the practice must be understood from the culture in which it occurs. Once the problem is understood from this perspective, the most appropriate and effective solutions can then be suggested. The age at which a circumcision is performed on a woman varies. Female circumcisions are normally performed on girls aged 4 to 10 (Toubia 1994, 712). It is also not uncommon to find female circumcisions performed on other types of girls and women. This procedure can also be performed on babies, women about to get married, or after a woman has given birth for the first time (Toubia 1994, 712). There are various ways to perform this procedure. One solution is to undergo a clitoridectomy, which is defined as partial or complete removal of the clitoris (Shell Duncan 2001, 1015). Another way to do this is to completely or partially remove the clitoris as well as the inner lips (Shell Duncan 2001, 1015). The final way the procedure can occur is when all external genitalia are removed only to leave a small opening for the passage of fluids such as urine and menstrual blood (Shell Duncan 2001, 1015). This type is called infibulation (Shell... middle of paper... parts removed from the female genital area (Gruenbaum 2005, 431). There are solutions that range from performing a less painful procedure to empowering women in the hope of changing the culture (Shell Duncan 2001, 1015) (Gruenbaum 2005, 431). Bibliography Duncan-Shell, Bettina 2001. “The medicalization of female “circumcision”: harm reduction or promotion of a dangerous practice? " Social Sciences and Medicine 52: 1013-1028. Gordon, Daniel. 1991. “Female circumcision and genital operations in Egypt and Sudan: a dilemma for medical anthropology” Medical Anthropology Quarterly 5: 3-14. Gruenbaum, Ellen 2005 . “Sociocultural dynamics of female genital cutting: research findings, gaps and directions” Culture, health and sexuality 7: 429-441. “Female circumcision as a public health problem” The New. England Journal of Medicine. september:712-716.