Young Arab women wait in an upmarket medical clinic for an operation that will not only change their lives, but quite possibly save it. Yet the operation is a matter of choice and not necessity. It costs about 2,000 euros (£1,700) and carries very little risk.

The clinic is not in Dubai or Cairo, but in Paris. And the surgery they are waiting for is to restore their virginity.

Whether in Asia or the Arab world, an unknown number of women face an agonising problem having broken a deep taboo. They've had sex outside marriage and if found out, risk being ostracised by their communities, or even murdered.

Sonia underwent surgery to reconnect her hymen
Sonia says she considered suicide after her first sexual relationship

Now more and more of them are undergoing surgery to re-connect their hymens and hide any sign of past sexual activity. They want to ensure that blood is spilled on their wedding night sheets

Millefleur wrote:A pre-opened woman

So what happens if no blood is 'spilled' on the sheets then, despite being a virgin? Is that considered a true sign of pre-marital sex, would the bride be punished/ostracised?

Scot Dutchy wrote:


This is what the muslim world thinks over repairing the hymen

Kuia wrote:

Scot Dutchy wrote:


This is what the muslim world thinks over repairing the hymen

Not 'the muslim world' but the opinion of one person.
We don't know what proportion of 'the muslim world' shares that opinion.

Ash wrote:Like mmmcheezy I probably would have been in for a stoning as well. Not every girl bleeds, and I find it amazing that cultures that place so much importance on virginity haven't copped on yet. Or have copped but don't give a shite.

Ash wrote:Like mmmcheezy I probably would have been in for a stoning as well. Not every girl bleeds, and I find it amazing that cultures that place so much importance on virginity haven't copped on yet. Or have copped but don't give a shite.

Scot Dutchy wrote:

Ash wrote:Like mmmcheezy I probably would have been in for a stoning as well. Not every girl bleeds, and I find it amazing that cultures that place so much importance on virginity haven't copped on yet. Or have copped but don't give a shite.

Yep thats the score. No blood your dead meat. I read somewhere that they put in a blood capsule when they so it up which bursts when there is penetration. This is also true for the Romany people.

Mononoke wrote:I used to date a girl from the squash team at Uni, she said her hymen got torn while playing squash. At first i thought she was hinting at something more risque, but then she punched me. So i think she was telling the truth

Many others tear it by riding horses.

Ash wrote:
There can be a lot of misunderstanding with these stories when you're dirty minded!

Mononoke wrote:

Ash wrote:
There can be a lot of misunderstanding with these stories when you're dirty minded!

I wasn't being particularly dirty minded, any self respecting 21 year old would have done what I did. It's the violent response that baffles me.

Ash wrote:

Mononoke wrote:

Ash wrote:
There can be a lot of misunderstanding with these stories when you're dirty minded!

I wasn't being particularly dirty minded, any self respecting 21 year old would have done what I did. It's the violent response that baffles me.

True! I didn't really think about it the first time I read your post, but a punch is a bit of an extreme reaction! I would have just laughed it off.

Mononoke wrote:

Ash wrote:

Mononoke wrote:

Ash wrote:
There can be a lot of misunderstanding with these stories when you're dirty minded!

I wasn't being particularly dirty minded, any self respecting 21 year old would have done what I did. It's the violent response that baffles me.

True! I didn't really think about it the first time I read your post, but a punch is a bit of an extreme reaction! I would have just laughed it off.

No, i was just taking a bit of a piss. She punched me but it wasn't spiteful punch, it was i'm too embarrassed to do anything other that punch you punch. It was a fairly affectionate gesture, i think.

Scot Dutchy wrote:

Kuia wrote:

Scot Dutchy wrote:


This is what the muslim world thinks over repairing the hymen

Not 'the muslim world' but the opinion of one person.
We don't know what proportion of 'the muslim world' shares that opinion.

It is not the opinion of one person. The site does not work that way. Everything is checked by other authors.
That is why they claim to an authority on islamic affaires.

Kuia wrote:
Clearly not all agree or the question wouldn't have arisen in the fist place.