clitoridectomy

clitoridectomy
/klit'euhr i dek"teuh mee/, n., pl. clitoridectomies.
the excision of the clitoris, usually performed as part of female initiation rites, mainly among certain African peoples, but also sometimes used in various societies to curb sexual desire; female circumcision. Cf. infibulation.
[1865-70; clitorid- (comb. form repr. Gk kleitorís (gen. kleitorídos) CLITORIS) + -ECTOMY]

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or female circumcision or female genital mutilation

Ritual surgical procedure ranging from drawing blood, to removing the clitoris alone, to infibulation or Pharaonic circumcision
removing the external genitals, joining the sides and leaving a small opening.

Now often illegal, it dates to ancient times and purports to guard virginity and reduce sexual desire in traditional societies in many parts of the less-developed world. Infibulation, especially common in Sudan, Somalia, and Nigeria, is usually done by a midwife, often in unhygienic conditions. It may lead to severe bleeding, infection, exquisite pain, and death; if not, urination and sexual intercourse can be painful and menstrual blood may be retained. Women are reinfibulated after childbirth.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Clitoridectomy — is the surgical removal of the clitoris. It is rarely needed as a therapeutic medical procedure, such as when cancer has developed in or spread to the clitoris. Most removals of the clitoris occur as female genital mutilation, defined by the… …   Wikipedia

  • clitoridectomy — 1866, from Gk. klitorid (see CLITORIS (Cf. clitoris)) + ECTOMY (Cf. ectomy). Originally in reference to a proposed cure for hysteria …   Etymology dictionary

  • clitoridectomy — [klit΄ə ri dek′tə mē, klīt΄ə ri dek′tə mē] n. pl. clitoridectomies [klit΄ə ri dek′təmēz] the surgical removal of part or all of the clitoris, specif. as a ritualistic practice in some traditional societies …   English World dictionary

  • clitoridectomy — also clitorectomy noun (plural mies) Date: 1866 excision of all or part of the clitoris …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • clitoridectomy — noun The surgical procedure to remove all or part of the clitoris; female circumcision …   Wiktionary

  • clitoridectomy — Removal of the clitoris. [clitoris + G. ektome, excision] * * * clit·o·ri·dec·to·my .klit ə rə dek tə mē also clit·o·rec·to·my rek tə mē n, pl mies excision of all or part of the clitoris * * * n. the surgical removal of the clitoris (see …   Medical dictionary

  • clitoridectomy — [ˌklɪt(ə)rɪ dɛktəmi] noun (plural clitoridectomies) excision of the clitoris; female circumcision …   English new terms dictionary

  • clitoridectomy — clit·o·ri·dec·to·my …   English syllables

  • clitoridectomy — n. the surgical removal of the clitoris (see (female) circumcision) …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • clitoridectomy — clit•o•ri•dec•to•my [[t]ˌklɪt ər ɪˈdɛk tə mi[/t]] n. pl. mies ant srg the excision of the clitoris, performed in some traditional societies as part of female initiation rites • Etymology: 1865–70 …   From formal English to slang

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