#HealthNews: Virginity testing an act of violence against women - WHO

Violence against women takes multiple forms:
Intimate partner violence
Physical
Sexual
Psychological
Female Genital Mutilation
Forced and early marriages
Femicide
Trafficking
Virginity Testing

Virginity Testing is an act of violence against women.

“Virginity testing” aka “two-finger testing” has no scientific or clinical basis. It is an inspection of female genitalia designed to determine whether a woman or a lady has had vaginal intercourse.

Virginity testing is:
1️⃣ medically unnecessary
2️⃣ often times painful
3️⃣ humiliating and traumatic
4️⃣ a form of violence against women and girls.

There is NO examination that can prove a girl or woman has had sex.

So-called Virginity testing is often performed by inspecting the hymen for tears or its size of opening, and/or inserting fingers into the vagina (the “two-finger” test).

Girls are subjected, and often forced, to undergo Virginity Testing for various reasons - including requests from parents or potential partners to establish marriage eligibility or from employers for employment eligibility.

Health professionals and their professional associations should be aware that  Virginity Testing has NO scientific merit and cannot determine past vaginal penetration.

The term “virginity” is not a medical or scientific term.  Rather, the concept of “virginity” is a social, cultural and religious construct – one that reflects gender discrimination against women and girls.

Say NO to #VirginityTesting!

World Health Organization 
@who