Artificial hymen
An artificial hymen is a type of prosthetic created for the purpose of simulating an intact human hymen, usually to fake virginity.[1][2]
Contents
Use
Artificial hymens are made of a material which, when properly inserted, adhere to the inside of the vagina, temporarily giving the appearance of an intact hymen and releasing a red liquid that looks like blood when subjected to pressure.
Controversy
Artificial hymens ordered over the internet from retailers based in China by consumers in Egypt have outraged conservative politicians in the latter country, who have demanded that the product be banned.[3][4][5][6]
Further controversy stems from the product's adherence to centuries-old misunderstandings of virginity. The medical community has established that not all women are born with a hymen, and those who are do not necessarily bleed from intercourse.[7][8]
See also
References
- ↑ CNNGo: "The unlikely Chinese product that could start a trade war"
- ↑ Guardian.co.uk: "Male Orders Hymen"
- ↑ ABCNews: "Egyptian Lawmakers Want to Ban Fake Hymen"
- ↑ LA Times: "Gadget to help women feign virginity angers many in Egypt"
- ↑ BBC News: "Egypt anger over virginity faking"
- ↑ Huffington Post: "Egypt: Fake Hymen Kit May Be Banned"
- ↑ Emans, S. Jean. "Physical Examination of the Child and Adolescent" (2000) in Evaluation of the Sexually Abused Child: A Medical Textbook and Photographic Atlas, Second edition, Oxford University Press. 61-65
- ↑ McCann, J; Rosas, A. and Boos, S. (2003) "Child and adolescent sexual assaults (childhood sexual abuse)" in Payne-James, Jason; Busuttil, Anthony and Smock, William (eds). Forensic Medicine: Clinical and Pathological Aspects, Greenwich Medical Media: London, a)p.453, b)p.455 c)p.460.
