Female genital mutilation: Guidance for travel health services
The following information is aimed at travel health organisations, clinics and health care professionals.
Please also read our clinical resource on female genital mutilation (FGM) to read more about guidelines from the World Health Organization.
RCN guidance for FGM and travel health services
The publication Female Genital Mutilation: RCN Guidance for Travel Health Services (2023) acts as a supplement to Female Genital Mutilation: An RCN Resource for Nursing and Midwifery Practice (2023). It focuses on professionals working in travel health services, the importance of reviewing travel health settings and how to provide an effective safeguarding process around FGM.
RCN guidance for sexual health care
The publication Female Genital Mutilation. RCN guidance for sexual health care (2023) focuses on professionals working in sexual health services, including sexual health clinics, genitourinary medicine clinics and children’s services.
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow Faculty of Travel Medicine provides a free online travel health module for health care professionals. Those providing pre-travel consultations should routinely consider the risk of FGM for female travellers.
National guidance states that a question about FGM should be included in all routine pre-travel risk assessment questionnaires. This online module helps health care professionals identify those at risk of FGM and sets out practical ways to discuss this sensitive subject with patients.
The National FGM Centre aims to achieve a system change in the provision of services for children and their families who are affected by Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Page last updated - 19/03/2024
