The objectives of this study were to explore male complications and attitudes with regard to female genital mutilation (FGM). Interviews were carried out in a village in Sudan according to a pretested questionnaire, using structured questions with open-answer possibilities. Married men of the youngest parental generation and grandfathers were randomly selected from up-to-date election lists. 59 men were interviewed (29 young men, aged 26-43, and 30 grandfathers, 50-82 yrs old) as to their attitudes regarding FGM and their own physical and psychological complications. Male complications resulting from FGM, such as difficulty in penetration, wounds/infections on the penis and psychological problems were described by a majority of the men. Most men were also aware of the female complications. More young than old respondents would have accepted a woman without FGM to become their daughter-in-law (p<0.03). A majority of the young men would have preferred to marry a woman without FGM. This proportion was significantly higher than among the grandfathers (p<0.01). FGM can no longer be considered to be only an issue for women. The acknowledged male complications and attitudes described may open new possibilities to counteract the practice of FGM.