In many countries across Africa and Asia, the practice of virginity testing on girls still persists. This often occurs before marriage or when there are claims of sexual assault, under the pretense of finding “proof” of virginity.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), virginity testing involves inspecting the hymen—a membrane located inside the female genitalia—to see if it is “intact.” Medical professionals, or sometimes unqualified individuals, may insert their fingers into a girl’s vagina to determine whether she has had sexual intercourse.
While supporters claim it is a way to verify a girl’s purity before marriage, WHO emphasizes that the presence or absence of a hymen is not scientific proof of virginity. The hymen can tear for many reasons unrelated to sex, including physical activity or accidental injury.
Human rights experts condemn this practice as a form of gender-based violence, especially since boys are never subjected to similar tests to prove their virginity. Girls face extreme pressure, fear of being rejected, or even wrongly accused of immoral behavior.
In some countries like Burundi, such tests may be conducted when a girl reports rape—first to check if she was indeed a virgin. This can retraumatize victims instead of providing them support.
In Morocco, some girls use a product known as a “blood capsule” to simulate bleeding during intercourse and create the illusion of virginity. The capsule contains red powder and is inserted before sex to produce blood-like discharge during the act. This is done to avoid shame, family rejection, or being sent back home on the wedding day.
One girl stated: “Isn’t it just blood they want? We’ll give them blood.”
The practice of virginity testing stems from cultural beliefs that equate virginity with a girl’s value. However, gender rights advocates argue that this is a discriminatory and harmful tradition that violates the dignity and rights of women and girls.
Today, many countries and international organizations are calling for a total ban on this practice, as it has no place in a human rights–respecting society.
