Infibulation, in its modern use of the word, is the practice of surgical closure of the female labia majora by sewing them together to seal off the female genitalia, leaving only a small hole for the passage of urine and menstrual blood. This is usually done on young girls around the onset of puberty, to ensure chastity. It is usually linked with female circumcision, or removal of the clitoris and, usually, the labia minora as well, in order to render women theoretically less sexual. Female circumcision is often confused with infibulation, but they are distinct procedures. Parts of a vulva The external genital organs of the female are collectively known as the vulva (also sometimes called the pudenda). ... A sex organ, or primary sexual characteristic, narrowly defined, is any of those parts of the body (which are not always bodily organs according to the strict definition) which are involved in sexual reproduction and constitute the reproductive system in an complex organism; namely: Male: penis (notably the glans penis... Urine is liquid waste excreted by the kidneys and eventually expelled from the body in a process known as urination. ... The menstrual cycle is the periodic change in a womans body that occurs every month between puberty and menopause and that relates to reproduction. ... Puberty refers to the process of physical changes by which a childs body becomes an adult body capable of reproduction. ... Chastity is a pure state of the human body and mind -- especially pursued for religious or other ethical reasons, as by virtuous sexual abstience in the Judeo-christian usually referred to in modern speech. ... Female circumcision (including excision) refers to a number of procedures performed on the female genitalia and which are generally of a cultural, rather than medical nature. ... A womans clitoris extends from the visible portion to a point below the pubic bone. ... Parts of a vulva The external genital organs of the female are collectively known as the vulva (also sometimes called the pudenda). ...

These practices are mostly confined to sub-Saharan Africa cultures. They are usually performed without anesthetic and in unsanitary conditions, and without the consent of those infibulated. Many of the subjects of these practices have experienced severe infections and reproductive disorders as a result of these practices, and even death. Infibulation is usually reversed at the time of a girl's marriage by simply cutting the connected tissue. // Etymology World map showing Africa (geographically) The name Africa came into Western use through the Romans, who used the name Africa terra — land of the Afri (plural, or Afer singular) — for the northern part of the continent, as the province of Africa with its capital Carthage, corresponding to modern-day...

These practices have been widely condemned by other cultures as barbaric and cruel. According to the United Nations' End Fistula Campaign, this particular form of female genital cutting contributes to the development of organ damage and incontinence resulting from prolonged and unsuccessful efforts to give birth (obstetric fistula). Obstetric fistula is a severe medical condition in which a fistula (hole) develops between either the rectum and vagina (see rectovaginal fistula) or between the bladder and vagina (see vesicovaginal fistula) after severe or failed childbirth, when adequate medical care is not available. ...

Historically, infibulation has referred to the suturing of the labia, or suturing the foreskin of the male. This has been performed on slaves in ancient Rome to ensure chastity, as well as voluntarily in some cultures. Without removing tissue, it was intended to prevent sexual intercourse, but not masturbation. The use of the word 'infibulation' has recently been applied to the more severe African practice. Traditionally, the African practice was called pharaonic circumcision, and is not technically infibulation. The missionary position is the most common position for sexual intercourse in humans The cowgirl sex position is a good position for kissing, caressing, and embracing of the paramour The Doggy position is thus named because canines as well as most other mammals use this position. ... Masturbation is the manual excitation of the sexual organs, most often to the point of orgasm. ...