There are 4 main types of FGM as classified by the World Health Organization and most medical bodies worldwide.

Quick Scoop: How many types of FGM are there?

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is medically and legally recognized as a serious form of abuse and a violation of human rights. It is classified into four major types , each describing what is done to the external genitalia.

The 4 WHO‑defined types (simple overview)

  1. Type 1 – Clitoridectomy
    Partial or total removal of the clitoral glans, and/or the clitoral hood (prepuce).
  1. Type 2 – Excision
    Partial or total removal of the clitoral glans and the labia minora, with or without removal of the labia majora.
  1. Type 3 – Infibulation
    Narrowing of the vaginal opening by creating a covering seal using cut and repositioned labia (inner and/or outer), sometimes stitched, with or without removal of the clitoris.
  1. Type 4 – Other harmful procedures
    All other non‑medical harmful procedures to the female genitalia, such as pricking, piercing, incising, scraping or cauterization.

These four categories are used globally in health care, research, law, and human-rights work.

Mini sections

Why “types” matter

  • They help doctors quickly understand what has been done and what complications to look for (pain, infections, childbirth problems, sexual difficulties).
  • They allow clearer laws and protection policies, because FGM is illegal and considered child abuse in many countries, including the UK and much of Europe.
  • They support data collection and global campaigns to end FGM, which remains a target for elimination by 2030 under international goals.

A quick example for context

Imagine a clinic where two survivors come in:

  • One has had only the clitoral glans removed: this would usually be recorded as Type 1.
  • Another has a very small vaginal opening with visible scarring where the labia have been stitched together: this would be Type 3 (infibulation).

Labeling them correctly helps plan safe care, including surgery (de‑infibulation), pain management, and psychological support.

Small note on “subtypes”

Within these four main types, there are subtypes (for example, Type IIIa and IIIb, depending on whether the inner or outer labia are involved). But in most everyday explanations and forum or news discussions, people simply say there are “four types of FGM”.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.