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→Origins: Wikify.
During the late XIX century, in English speaking countries, the theory of irritation and reflex neurosis led to the development of many forms of genital mutilation.<ref>{{GollaherDL 1994}}</ref>
Circumcision of the male, [[infibulation]] of the male [[foreskin]], castration, [[clitoridectomy]], circumcision proper of the female (removal or reduction of the clitoral hood), removal of the nymphae ([[labia minora]]), application of irritants to the genitals, enemas, hysterectomies. The purpose was to reduce excessive sexual desire and its manifestations, such as [[masturbation]], which were suspected to be the cause of many diseases.
Before the 19th century, [[circumcision ]] existed only as a ritual for some cultures and religions. However, the belief that Jews were immune to [[masturbation]] because of their circumcision, led to the inclusion of circumcision among the plethora of genital surgeries.
The late 19th century and early 20th century saw the first opponents of medical circumcision, such as Herbert Snow, Elizabeth Cromwell, first female {{MD}}<ref>{{REFbook
}}</ref>. But by changing the rationale for the procedure, circumcision survived the transformation from the reflex neurosis theory to the germ theory. What started as circumcision of children, became newborn circumcision during and after the World Wars.
In the UK[[United Kingdom]], an article by [[Douglas Gairdner]] led the NHS to stop coverage of circumcisions in 1949.<ref>{{REFjournal
|last=Gairdner
|first=Douglas
|url=http://www.cirp.org/library/general/gairdner/
|accessdate=2018-11-01
}}</ref>. Ironically, the prevalence of circumcision in the [[United States ]] kept growing, with rare opposition.
Female genital mutilation never became prevalent, although its practice remained more or less hidden in different places as a punishment for [[masturbation]]. However, since the 1950s, medicine started targeting babies born with atypical genitalia or atypical reproductive organs (intersex) for non-consensual "normalization" surgeries and treatments, some of which have been compared to female genital mutilation. In general, these procedures are now referred to as Intersex Genital Mutilation (IGM) by the intersex community.