PLEASURE NOT PROFITS! A CALL TO MONITOR AND EVALUATE FEMALE GENITAL COSMETIC PROCEDURES

PLEASURE NOT PROFITS!
A CALL TO MONITOR AND EVALUATE FEMALE GENITAL COSMETIC PROCEDURES

This petition challenges the dangerous new industry of female genital cosmetic surgery (FGCS), and calls for appropriate oversight.

Operations for labia that are allegedly “too big” or “mismatched” may bring big profits, but surgeons are not required to explain real genital diversity or report actual surgical consequences. Without this information, women cannot make an informed choice. Patient testimonials are not information. No professional group in the U.S. tracks labial or clitoral surgeries, so neither the public nor the media knows their extent or how often there are complications.

Most surgeons’ websites are loaded with photographs that misinform the public about female genital diversity. The “before” photos in the before-and-after online photo galleries depict a range of genitals as abnormal, but scientific studies show that many different shapes, sizes, and colors are normal. The photo galleries not only misinform, but they increase women’s and girls’ self-consciousness and add to anxiety. Photos may even be photoshopped or retouched.

By law, advertisers must have solid evidence for health claims BEFORE they run an ad , yet the Federal Trade Commission has taken no action against the many false and misleading website claims about the alleged sexual benefits of FGCS. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology has not sanctioned members who make misleading claims despite ACOG’s 2007 statement criticizing deception.

A full informed consent process for these surgeries should educate women about normal genital diversity and warn about scarring, chronic pain, obstetric risks, loss of genital sensation, reduced erotic pleasure, and post-surgical anxieties.

WE CALL ON THE CONSUMER PROTECTION BUREAU OF THE U.S. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AND THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY

1. to mandate annual tracking of cosmetic genital surgeries by designated professional groups
2. to issue stronger advisories against misleading online claims and photo galleries
3. to require that surgeons provide full information about genital diversity as part of surgical consent
4. to educate journalists who cover FGCS about these matters

Please sign this petition and support our campaign.