Moroccan Doctors Reject Controversial Virginity Tests, Citing Medical and Ethical Concerns

According to sources cited by the newspaper Assabah, some doctors, both in the public and private sectors, now refuse to provide it on the grounds that it would be degrading and insulting to young girls.

These doctors refer to studies carried out by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Human Rights Council and UN Women, which show that it is impossible to prove through a test whether a woman has had sexual intercourse or not by simply examining her hymen. In addition, health professionals consider that with the trivialization of hymen reconstruction surgery (hymenoplasty), tests do not constitute proof of the virginity of young women.

According to the WHO, these tests can cause bleeding and be a source of transmission of sexually transmitted diseases and genital infections, and in some cases can lead to suicides if the young woman fails the test.

The newspaper recalls that there is no legal obligation to provide this document and in most cases it is the husband’s relatives or the husband himself who demand it before any union.

Last August, while the government had just announced the restoration of military service, several rumors were circulating about a virginity test required by the army for all women called up. "The military institution would like to take precautions to avoid being accused of rape during military service," it was said. This rumor had been categorically denied by the government.