PIP: Female circumcision involves removing either all or part of the clitoris, labia minora, and/or labia majora. The practice is therefore increasingly being described as female genital mutilation. More than 90% of women in Sudan have undergone female genital mutilation. Pharonic circumcision is the most prevalent in Sudan. This form of mutilation involves the full removal of the clitoris and the labia. The two sides of the wound are then sewn together, leaving a small hole through which urine and menstrual blood may pass. Female genital mutilation occurs because women believe that the resultant narrow vaginal entrance will give pleasure to a future husband, due to tradition, uncircumcised women have great difficulty finding a spouse, and from the belief that the practice is mentioned in Islam. Koranic law is widely respected and followed in the Islamic areas of Sudan. Contrary to the belief of women that female circumcision keeps the vagina very clean, considerable health and psychological problems may result following the operation and throughout the woman's life. An activist against female genital mutilation describes her experience undergoing the operation, the trauma of first penile penetration with her husband, giving birth, and how women have their genital orifice restitched after delivery to the size before penetration. Nongovernmental organization efforts in Sudan against female circumcision are described.