Soltani Narges S, Heshmat Farahnaz, Dehghani Mohsen, Roudsari Robab L, Ghalibaf Mohadese B, Zagami Samira E
Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 2025 May 2;25(1):310-318. doi: 10.18295/2075-0528.2839.
This systematic review aimed to investigate the relationship between female genital mutilation (FGM) and infertility. Online databases were systematically searched up to January 2024 using MeSH keywords to retrieve relevant observational studies. The methodological quality of the analytical cross-sectional studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated, and a random-effects meta-analysis was used to address any heterogeneity. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was performed. A total of 5 analytical cross-sectional studies involving 37,146 participants, with 3 studies meeting the criteria for the meta-analysis. The results indicated that female circumcision (FC) was linked to a 21% increase in the odds of developing infertility compared to non-circumcision, although this finding was not statistically significant (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 0.98-1.50). Notably, there was no evidence of significant heterogeneity between the studies ( = 0.84 [Q statistics], I = 0.0%). While a statistically significant relationship between FGM and infertility was not established, the odds of infertility were higher in the circumcised group. Consequently, it is imperative to prioritise efforts to eradicate FC, especially among young girls.
本系统评价旨在研究女性生殖器切割（FGM）与不孕症之间的关系。截至2024年1月，使用医学主题词（MeSH）关键词对在线数据库进行系统检索，以获取相关的观察性研究。使用纽卡斯尔-渥太华量表评估分析性横断面研究的方法学质量。计算合并比值比（OR）及其95%置信区间（CI），并采用随机效应荟萃分析来处理任何异质性。此外，还进行了敏感性分析。共有5项分析性横断面研究，涉及37146名参与者，其中3项研究符合荟萃分析的标准。结果表明，与未进行环切术相比，女性环切术（FC）使患不孕症的几率增加了21%，尽管这一发现无统计学意义（OR = 1.21，95% CI：0.98 - 1.50）。值得注意的是，研究之间没有显著异质性的证据（Q统计量 = 0.84，I² = 0.0%）。虽然未确立女性生殖器切割与不孕症之间具有统计学意义的关系，但环切术组的不孕几率更高。因此，必须优先努力根除女性环切术，尤其是在年轻女孩中。
