The Wall Street Journal reports today (subscription required) that there is an new fast-growing market of women interested in having their hymen's restored, in an attempt to have them appear to be virgins again (oxymoron?).
Here is a snippet:
For her 17th wedding anniversary, Jeanette Yarborough wanted to do something special for her husband. In addition to planning a hotel getaway for the weekend, Ms. Yarborough paid a surgeon $5,000 to reattach her hymen, making her appear to be a virgin again.
I am interested in what the halachic perspective on this is and will try to look into it.
Isn't it pretty much the same as any other elective cosmetic surgery that has the potential (albeit small) to cause death? I would assume it would be discouraged for that reason alone.
Posted by: ALG | December 15, 2005 at 05:05 PM
The link is only available to subscribers. Can you post the date, section and page of the article?
Posted by: aaa | December 16, 2005 at 06:01 AM
Here is some info on the article:
"Hymen Surgery Is on the Rise
And Drawing Criticism;
A Radio Station Giveaway"
By AMY CHOZICK
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
December 15
Sorry that they are subscription only!
Posted by: Karen | December 17, 2005 at 06:01 PM
I'd be interested.
Posted by: Drew Kaplan | December 18, 2005 at 09:44 AM
The same procedure is also used in some cultures to allow women (and their families) to maintian the illusion that they are virgins and thereby (hopefully) prevent honor killings. The New York Times wrote about it (in the context of out-of-wedlock births in Egypt) almost a year ago, and I blogged about it here: http://www.devarim.com/archives/000234.html
Like ALG said, I'd imagine that the halachic view on the procedure itself is on par with that of any other type of cosmetic surgery. However, there's the added factor of not misrepresenting one's status as a virgin with regard to one's ketubah-price, marriage to a kohen, etc.
Posted by: shanna | December 19, 2005 at 10:04 PM
Thanks for the link Shanna.
I'm just not sure it would be in the same category as cosmetic surgery. However, I have been asking around and will post when I receive a response.
Posted by: Karen | December 19, 2005 at 10:20 PM
Is it really possible to just "tell" if someone's hymen is attached or not? can a husband of 17 years see or feel a difference?
Posted by: Plonit | December 20, 2005 at 03:39 PM
PLonit - I imagine the biggest "tell" would be the blood upon intercourse.
Posted by: shanna | December 23, 2005 at 04:58 PM