A Birmingham-based survivor shares the painful path from discovery to recovery after learning her mother orchestrated Female Genital Mutilation, with her mother eventually offering an apology that marks a pivotal moment in her healing journey.
Sara Kahsai’s journey began in Sudan before she relocated to England in 2022, marrying a local bus driver and settling into married life. What started as a routine marriage soon revealed a devastating secret hidden since childhood—she had survived Female Genital Mutilation. The revelation came not just as a diagnosis, but as a profound shock that reshaped her understanding of her past and present. “The shock was massive,” she reflects. “It made it difficult with my physical relationship with my husband—but he was very kind and very patient with me.”
Her mother, still residing in Africa, played a central role in orchestrating the procedure when Sara was a baby. When Sara finally confronted her mother, the response was immediate and genuine. “I was a baby. It was the culture to do it for everybody,” her mother admitted, her eyes glistening with remorse. The apology that followed became a turning point, opening a door to healing that had long remained closed.
The Physical Toll and Medical Challenges
The medical consequences of FGM extend far beyond the initial procedure, creating lifelong complications for survivors. Sara describes navigating challenges that fundamentally alter daily existence, including persistent difficulties with urination and menstruation. The surgical alteration affects the vaginal anatomy in ways that can compromise natural function, leading to chronic discomfort and significant health risks.
Survivors face elevated susceptibility to infections and potentially life-threatening sepsis. The trauma inflicted during childhood reverberates throughout adulthood, manifesting as severe, ongoing pain that many women describe as debilitating. Beyond physical ailments, the psychological burden proves equally formidable. Anxiety and depression cling to the survivors’ minds, often making it difficult to articulate their experiences even to medical professionals. “It is very difficult, very emotional,” explains Midwife Renata Hanif, whose clinic at Birmingham Women’s Hospital processes approximately two hundred cases annually. “Many patients find it hard to talk about what has happened to them.”
The clinical environment offers hope through specialized interventions. Deinfibulation—a procedure performed during pregnancy—can safely separate fused tissues, enabling clearer birth outcomes. These treatments represent crucial pathways toward restoring bodily autonomy and improving maternal health prospects. Yet the road to recovery remains arduous, requiring both medical expertise and emotional resilience.
A Network of Care and Recovery
Recognizing the complex needs of survivors, healthcare providers have developed comprehensive approaches to address both immediate physical concerns and long-term psychological well-being. The FGM Clinic at Birmingham Women’s Hospital operates under the guidance of dedicated midwives who prioritize patient-centered care throughout every stage of recovery.
Dr. Renata Hanif emphasizes that her clinic serves not only as a place for surgical intervention but as a space where survivors can begin reclaiming agency over their bodies. Through detailed consultations, practitioners explain exactly what was altered during procedures and what lasting effects to expect. “We talk about every part, what that part is there for and what’s been removed and what cause for concern,” Hanif notes. Such transparency helps survivors make informed decisions and fosters trust essential for therapeutic progress.
Counselling services complement medical care, providing safe environments where survivors can process decades of trauma. The National FGM Centre, established in 2015 by Barnardo’s, represents a coordinated national effort to combat this practice across the United Kingdom. Schools are legally mandated to incorporate FGM education into Relationships and Sex Education curricula, though implementation varies by institution. The centre advocates for greater integration into primary school instruction, arguing that prevention begins long before any potential harm occurs.
Prevention, Accountability, and Systemic Change
While legal frameworks exist to punish FGM and hold perpetrators accountable, the current focus remains on rehabilitation rather than punishment alone. “A conviction provides justice and sends strong messages into communities, but by then the harm has already happened,” observes Rohma Ullah from the National FGM Centre. This perspective underscores the necessity of prioritizing survivor support alongside criminal proceedings.
The government’s April FGM Summit represented a significant step forward, introducing updated guidelines designed to identify girls at risk of being subjected to the practice, particularly those vulnerable to being taken abroad. These measures aim to create protective systems before violence occurs, shifting the approach from reactive intervention to proactive prevention. Sarah Kahsai urges fellow survivors to act decisively upon receiving support. “If I knew I could seek help I would not have waited until I was expecting… because I did suffer a lot before,” she stresses. “When they come to the UK, there is help—their GP, seek assistance, ask for help.”
Accessibility remains paramount. The BBC Action Line website offers confidential support channels for those affected by this issue, providing a critical lifeline for individuals ready to begin their journey toward recovery. The collective response from healthcare providers, educational institutions, and governmental bodies signals growing recognition that ending FGM requires sustained commitment across multiple sectors.
Why it Matters
Female Genital Mutilation represents one of the most serious violations of human rights affecting millions of women and girls globally. The physical damage inflicted during these procedures—combined with enduring psychological scars—creates a cascade of health problems that persist for a lifetime. However, the true significance extends beyond individual suffering; it reflects deep-rooted cultural traditions that contradict fundamental principles of bodily integrity and gender equality. By ensuring survivors access timely medical care, psychological support, and preventive education, society moves toward dismantling the structures that enable such atrocities. Moreover, championing victims like Sara Kahsai challenges the silence that has long protected perpetrators and normalized trauma. Each survivor’s recovery contributes to broader societal transformation, reinforcing that dignity and consent belong to everyone regardless of background or circumstance.
