Virginity testing and hymenoplasty multi-agency guidance
Guidance for organisations and anyone who may come in to contact with women and girls affected by virginity testing and hymenoplasty.
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This guidance offers advice for chief executives, directors, senior managers, front-line professionals within agencies and anyone else who may come in to contact with women and girls affected by virginity testing and hymenoplasty. It encourages agencies to cooperate and work together to protect and support those at risk of, or who have undergone, these procedures.
The Health and Care 2022 Act makes carrying out, offering, and aiding and abetting virginity testing and hymenoplasty illegal.
This follows the publication of the Tackling violence against women and girls strategy confirming that the government would seek to ban virginity testing and the independent Expert panel on hymenoplasty that recommended to government that hymenoplasty be banned.
Video summary of this guidance
You can also see an animated NHS video summarising the government’s 2022 multi-agency guidance on virginity testing and hymenoplasty.
Last updated 12 April 2024 + show all updates
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Removal of sentence on ways the hymen can stretch or tear other than through sexual intercourse - due to reference source update. Several links to guidance and supporting information updated.
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Added link to NHS video on this guidance.
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Removal of reference to surgery to remove remnant fingers of the hymen.
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First published.