title: When Bleeding Is Vital: Surgically Ensuring the "Virginal" State.
abstract: A young woman called me to ask for a referral to a physician who provided hymen reconstruction surgery. She had had premarital intercourse and came from a cultural background in which it was very important to "prove virginity" on the wedding night. This article deals with my internal struggle whether or not to provide the referral. I felt that providing it would have made me complicit in supporting gender inequality, as men are not required to "prove virginity" to get married. At the same time, I was concerned about the repercussions of not being able to "prove virginity" would have on the caller. I had no explicit guidance on what to do in such a situation--it was not covered by the professional responsibilities I had as a research assistant.
authors.affiliation: Blumenweg 15, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland sohailab@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sohaila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bastami
mesh_terms: D018912:Arabs; D003068:Coercion; D003075:Coitus; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D008192:Deception; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D006924:Hymen / Q000601:surgery*; D007514:Islam; D008393:Marriage; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000941:ethics; D028681:Moral Obligations; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010820:Physicians / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000941:ethics*; D063507:Sexism; D012746:Sexual Abstinence; D012945:Social Values; D014481:United States