Women’s Health and Wellbeing

Women’s Health & Wellbeing
In Leeds and surrounding areas

✔ Working Together
✔ Community Engagement
✔ Award-Winning Organisation
✔ Equality For All
Join the programme
✔ Working Together
✔ Community Engagement
✔ Award-Winning Organisation
✔ Equality For All

Addressing Inequalities

The project works to effectively engage marginalised and disadvantaged women from minority communities throughout the city of Leeds.

The project addresses health inequalities through holistic, targeted bespoke led health activities and focused group work. We provide factual information on the following:
- Fibroids and Endometriosis
- Female Genital Mutilation
- Sexual Health
- Parenting Skills
- Mental Health

Female Genital Mutilation

BHI campaigns to eradicate FGM in the Leeds region through supporting communities and training frontline practitioners to raise awareness in tackling myth taboos and ensure that there is equity of service provision. We provide culturally sensitive counselling, legal advice sessions, training for frontline service providers and community peer support and awareness training.
  • What is FGM? – World Health Classification – Definition

    All procedures, which involve, partial or total removal of the female eternal genitalia, or any other injury to the female genital organs, for non-therapeutic reasons.

  • Female genital mutilation (FGM) can also be known as:
    • Cutting
    • Sunna
    • The Bundu Society
    • Female Circumcision
    • Angurya Cuts
  • Types of FGM:
    •  Type Clitoridectomy-Partial/total removal of the clitoris and/or prepuce.
    • Type 2 Excision-Partial/total removal of the clitoris and labia minora, with without excision of the labia majora.
    • Type Infibulation-Narrowing the vaginal orifice with creation of a covering by cutting and opposing the labia minora or majora, with or without removing the clitoris.
    • Type 4 Unclassified -Pricking, piercing, stretching, cauterising the clitoris/labia, scraping of tissue introduction of corrosive substances to cause bleeding/tighten the vagina.
  • No health benefits, only harm:

    FGM has no health benefits, and it harms girls and women in many ways: 

    • It involves removing and damaging healthy and normal female genital tissue, and interferes with the natural functions of girls' and women's bodies.
    • Immediate complications can include severe pain, shock, haemorrhage (bleeding), tetanus or sepsis (bacterial infection), urine retention, open sores in the genital region and injury to nearby genital tissue.

    Long-term physical consequences can include:

    • Emotional and psychological harm
    • Recurrent bladder and urinary tract infections;
    • Cysts;
    • Infertility
    • Death
    • HIV
    • Septicaemia
    • An increased risk of childbirth complications and infant mortality;
  • Who is at risk?

    Procedures are mostly carried out on babies, young girls up to the late teens, and occasionally on adult women. In Africa, more than three million girls have been estimated to be at risk from FGM annually (WHO 2014).

    But it doesn’t happen here - YES IT DOES


    Contrary to beliefs this abuse happens within the UK.  As practicing communities migrate to the UK the abuse becomes more prevalent. Awareness has to be raised, knowledge shared and legalities given. Female Genital Mutilation is an illegal practice within the UK and is not condoned for any reason.


    If FGM is suspected and/or disclosed please contact any of the following:

    • Children Social Care
    • Adult Social Care
    • Police
    • Any recognised supporting organisation

FGM Awareness Video

Female genital mutilation (FGM) refers to procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

A Survivor's Story

A Female genital mutilation (FGM) survivor now living in Leeds recounts her story in her own words.

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