International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Authorities in Western Australia are unlikely to find out how widespread female genital mutilation (FGM) is among its people, an academic has said.

According to Dr Anne Aly, a researcher at Curtin University, it is difficult to establish how many girls in the region are forced to undergo the procedure, WAtoday reports.

This, she said, is because it would depend partly on the parents taking their child to get medical help should the youngster get an infection as a result of FGM.

Dr Aly noted that cases of FGM that are disclosed in the state typically involve women from other countries.

She stated this is because the practice can lead to foreign women living in the area suffering complications in pregnancy.

Dr Aly said the true extent of FGM in Western Australia has been "underreported" due to these problems.

She added that the procedure is not affiliated with a particular religion, as it has been performed by people from both Catholic and Muslim groups.

Posted by Carla Mackenzie