# The Relationship between Female Genital Mutilation and Infertility: A systematic review and meta-analysis

## TL;DR

This study reviews the link between female genital mutilation and infertility, finding a higher but not statistically significant risk of infertility among circumcised women.

## Contribution

The study provides a systematic review and meta-analysis of FGM's association with infertility, highlighting the need for eradicating the practice.

## Key findings

- Female circumcision was associated with a 21% higher odds of infertility, though not statistically significant.
- No significant heterogeneity was found among the included studies.
- The study emphasizes the importance of eliminating female genital mutilation to prevent potential infertility risks.

## Abstract

This systematic review aimed to investigate the relationship between female genital mutilation (FGM) and infertility. Online databases were systematically searched up to January 2024 using MeSH keywords to retrieve relevant observational studies. The methodological quality of the analytical cross-sectional studies was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated, and a random-effects meta-analysis was used to address any heterogeneity. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was performed. A total of 5 analytical cross-sectional studies involving 37,146 participants, with 3 studies meeting the criteria for the meta-analysis. The results indicated that female circumcision (FC) was linked to a 21% increase in the odds of developing infertility compared to non-circumcision, although this finding was not statistically significant (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 0.98–1.50). Notably, there was no evidence of significant heterogeneity between the studies (P = 0.84 [Q statistics], I2 = 0.0%). While a statistically significant relationship between FGM and infertility was not established, the odds of infertility were higher in the circumcised group. Consequently, it is imperative to prioritise efforts to eradicate FC, especially among young girls.