•Is Leading To The Collapse Of Marriages
•Dr. FELICITA OGU Explains Why
Female Genital Mutilation, FGM remains a big problem in Nigeria. It is one of Nigeria’s most harmful traditional practices, deeply woven into the cultural fabric of many communities. Despite decades of advocacy, this act of violence against Girls and Women persists, often cloaked in the name of tradition, purity, or social acceptance. What is rarely discussed, however, is how this act not only harms the female body and psyche but also contributes directly to the breakdown of marriages across Nigeria. Marriages that once held promise collapse under the weight of physical pain, emotional detachment, sexual dysfunction, and psychological trauma resulting from FGM.
FGM, which involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons, is often carried out on girls between infancy and age 15.
According to data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, NDHS and UNICEF, Nigeria is home to the highest number of FGM survivors in Africa, with over 19.9 million women having undergone the procedure. The form of FGM practiced in the North is often less severe (Type I) compared to the more extensive cutting in the South.
Despite legislative bans, the practice remains prevalent in several states. Osun State, for instance, has one of the highest prevalence rates in the country — over 76.6% of women aged 15–49 have undergone FGM. Ekiti and Oyo also have high rates, each above 60%.
In the Southeast, Ebonyi and Imo report significant prevalence ranging from 40% to 60%. Some parts of Delta and Edo States also continue the practice among specific ethnic groups.
While FGM is less common in Northern Nigeria, it still exists. States like Kano, Bauchi, and Sokoto have rates between 10% and 30%, mainly practiced among certain conservative muslime communities, usually in less severe forms.
While the physical damage is immediate, infections, hemorrhage, and in some cases, death, the long-term consequences are far-reaching. One of the lesser-known but growing outcomes is the increase in marital instability and failures among FGM survivors.
Many women who have undergone FGM are unable to enjoy or engage in healthy sexual relationships. The removal of sensitive genital parts leads to reduced or absent sexual desire and painful intercourse, often referred to as dyspareunia. This becomes a serious problem in marriages, where intimacy is central to connection and satisfaction. Husbands may feel rejected or confused, unable to understand the root of their wives’ disinterest or distress during intimacy, leading to frustration, infidelity, or eventual separation.
Dr. Felicita Augustine Ogbu, a General medicine practitioner, shared her professional experience with City People: “We see many cases where couples come in for counseling, and the root cause of their sexual issues traces back to FGM. These women are not emotionally or physically comfortable during sex, and that creates a growing distance between partners. Many men are not educated on the trauma their wives experienced. They interpret it as disinterest, and eventually, it breaks the marriage,” she said
According to Dr. Ogbu, sexual trauma from FGM is not just physical, it is deeply psychological. Survivors often develop anxiety disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, depression, and low self-esteem. “You cannot expect a woman who has been violated in her formative years to suddenly be comfortable with intimacy or trust in a marital relationship. These deep wounds manifest later in life and can ruin what would have been happy unions,” she added.
In communities where FGM is glorified, women are expected to submit to their husbands regardless of the physical or emotional cost. Those who rebel or speak up are shamed, further isolating them. “Some women endure abusive relationships simply because they believe it’s their fate. FGM strips them of their voice and power even before they enter adulthood,” Dr. Ogbu noted.
Beyond intimacy issues, FGM also contributes to complications during childbirth, which can create financial and emotional burdens for couples. Women who have been cut are more likely to suffer from obstructed labor, tears, and postpartum hemorrhaging. This leads to increased medical bills, extended hospital stays, and sometimes, the loss of the child or mother. For families in economically challenged communities, this is a heavy burden that fractures marriages.
There are also social implications. Men who discover their wives have been mutilated may view them differently, especially if they are unaware of the trauma associated with FGM. Some even blame their wives for not being able to “perform” or “satisfy” them, not realizing they are victims of a harmful tradition. In extreme cases, these men abandon their wives or seek sexual satisfaction elsewhere, leading to broken homes and emotional distress for both parties.
Another rising concern is the psychological inheritance passed down to daughters. Women who have suffered FGM are often conflicted — while some wish to shield their daughters, others feel pressure from family and society to continue the practice. This generational cycle not only continues the physical harm but also sows discord within families and communities as younger women resist the tradition.
FGM must be stopped, not just for the sake of the girls being cut today, but for the future of marriages, families, and mental health in Nigerian society. It is a practice rooted in control, ignorance, and gender inequality. Ending it requires more than legislation — it demands grassroots education, open conversations in religious and traditional institutions, and support systems for survivors.
Healthcare professionals, civil society organizations, local chiefs, and religious leaders must work together to expose the truth about FGM. Media must continue to share stories of survivors, not just from a place of pain, but of resilience and recovery. Every community must unlearn the myths, that FGM keeps women loyal, clean, or desirable, and embrace the reality that a woman’s worth is not tied to mutilation.
Female Genital Mutilation is more than a health issue; it is a social, psychological, and marital crisis. It is time Nigeria addressed it as such. Only then can we hope for stronger, healthier marriages and a society where women are not silently suffering behind closed doors.
–Benprince Ezeh
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