The medicalization of female genital cutting (FGC) has been increasing. This cross-sectional study estimated the determinants of the practice of FGC among Egyptian physicians. Re-sponses from 193 physicians showed that while 88% of them knew at least one adverse physical or sex-ual consequence, 18% approved of it, mostly as a religious observation (82%). Almost one-fifth (19%)of physicians practised FGC, mostly due to conviction (51%) or for profit (30%). A negative correlationwas found between knowledge of the adverse consequences of FGC and both approval and practice.Cultural influences were the highest determinant (81%) followed by lack of knowledge (35%