Right across the UK, patients have been denied transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) due to the fact they have never been sexually active. Like all ultrasounds, this procedure creates an image of internal organs and a TVUS requires a device to be inserted in the vagina, providing a clearer and more detailed image, helping to identify cysts, PCOS and even cancer. Yet despite this being a safe and usually painless procedure, ‘virgins’ are being denied the chance to receive treatment that is potentially lifesaving and crucial to diagnosis of certain conditions.  

Medical Centres and the British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS) are however, in disagreement, with the BMUS stating that “if a patient has not had penetrative sex, they are still entitled to be offered, and to accept, a TVUS in the same way that cervical screening is offered to all eligible patients”. This implies that doctors are making these decisions, not only against the patients’ wishes, but against medical guidance, due to archaic ideas of virginity and sex. 

As a consequence, patients may feel pressured to lie to their doctors or have sex sooner than they are ready. While this might not seem significant, this could put young people in uncomfortable or even dangerous situations.  

This medical decision is causing unnecessary distress over something that is, in essence, a social construct. Virginity is usually associated with the hymen, however, those assigned female-at-birth are sometimes born without one intact or it can break through everyday activity, such as strenuous exercise or using tampons. On occasion, those who have had penetrative sex, the hymen can remain intact, which only highlights that there is no medical reason why healthcare should be denied. If the hymen in intact when a TVUS is needed, there may only be a slight discomfort. 

This idea of virginity is also based on heteronormative ideas. If the definition of virginity is based on penetrative sex, then medical practices are also discriminating people based on their sexual orientation. 

I use the word discrimination, as that is what it is. For years, women have been discriminated against for not being virgins and while this idea that women are now being discriminated against for choosing not to have penetrative sex, is newer, it is a sign that women are expected to be perfect in various ways. It is a sign that women’s bodies are, yet again, being controlled; it is a denial of choice. And while it is not the same as other medical decisions, such as abortion, it is still a decision that women, or anyone with a vagina, should be able to make about their own bodies.  

This is a question of autonomy, not only on whether people should or shouldn’t receive this treatment, but on whether you chose to have penetrative sex or not. And who should really determine what we do with our bodies, other than ourselves?  

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