Firm transforms "Mythos's Virgin Skin" into a commercial venture.
In numerous societies, virginity is revered as a significant virtue. To uphold appearances, ladies resort to various tactics. A business from Baden-Württemberg provides blood capsules and synthetic hymens as solutions. Demand is escalating, yet these products are met with controversy.
Most purchasers make a single order, and there are scarcely any evaluations. The person operating the enterprise in Waghäusel close to Karlsruhe, who wishes to remain anonymous, describes it as "unusual". He markets blood capsules and "synthetic hymens".
These are made from food coloring and a few additives, which ladies can insert into their vagina either in a capsule or embedded in two cellulose membranes. The capsule is supposed to dissolve within two hours, and the tiny cellulose fragments within a few minutes, leaving red stains on the bedsheet to prove virginity.
This might appear strange, but it's prevalent in plenty of cultures. For instance, in India, pre-marital sex is traditionally frowned upon, and some families inspect the sheets following the wedding night. Women who are not virgins are deemed immoral, bringing shame upon themselves and their families. In some conservative communities, families of brides are shunned if there's suspicion that she's not a virgin.
It's no wonder then, that India ranks among the key markets for the "VirginiaCare" brand's products. They are shipped globally, including to other parts of Asia and the Arab world.
Controversial discussions in workshops
In Germany too, virginity is a frequent topic of discussion, as counseling centers confirm. Gianna Gentili from the girls' health center in Stuttgart shares that there's high demand in workshops. "There are often contentious discussions." Valentina Sbahi from the family planning center Balance in Berlin states that women from all over Germany visit her. "50 to 60 percent of my clients were born here. They went to school here."
Even self-assured women are influenced by cultural norms before marriage, Jutta Pliefke from Pro Familia has observed. Muslim women and those from strict Catholic families seek counseling. "It's a recurring theme here." Sometimes the threat is quite real. The gynecologist educates about female anatomy and options.
Hymen restorations, where the hymen is reconstructed, are frequently requested. These surgeries are riskier and more expensive than blood capsules, says Sbahi. "And there's no guarantee it will bleed." She advocates artificial blood products instead.
Terre des Femmes: Avoid exploiting emergency situations
The "VirginiaCare" complete package typically costs around 130 euros. Customers can purchase it online or from a pharmacy. It includes two blood capsules and two "synthetic hymens". "Then women can try both options", says the manager. Products are also sold individually. He doesn't disclose sales figures, but says demand has increased by 10 to 20 percent annually recently.
"Only emergency solutions", says Lena Henke, a representative for sexual and reproductive rights at the organization Terre des Femmes. Tools for self-determination, they certainly are not. She criticizes some advertising slogans in particular: "With statements like 'You've damaged your hymen', the company exploits the fear of those affected and perpetuates misconceptions. They contribute to the persistent myth of the hymen and the concept of virginity." The emergency situation of women should not be exploited for commercial gain.
"Myth of the Hymen"
The women's rights organization recently published an information brochure "There is no hymen: Information about the hymen". Like similar campaigns on the "Myth of the Hymen", it clarifies basic misunderstandings: "The hymen has nothing to do with being a virgin." There is no piece of skin that closes and rips off upon penetration. The hymen is a kind of skin ring, can look different, and some women don't even possess one. And: It does not always bleed during the first sex.
Topics that gynecologist Pliefke discusses repeatedly - and sometimes even uses a mirror to help the girls and women gain a self-perception. "The anatomical facts are often not clear."
Simple clarification in biology lessons is not enough, as Milena Aboyan also discovered. The director made a film called "Elaha" exactly on this topic, which was nominated for the German Film Prize. She previously spoke with the German-Kurdish community. "We felt it was time to talk about it."
Now she shows the film in schools, among other places, and receives plenty of positive feedback, says Aboyan. In her opinion, however, the topic of virginity is only a specific issue. "The patriarchy in society is generally a problem." It's about women and female bodies being sexualized. "We need to change the narratives."
This is not just a task for women, emphasizes Aboyan. And it's not only a topic for migrants and migrants' families. "Patriarchy has no origin." Rape within marriage was not a crime in Germany until 1997. Pliefke also warns against placing blame: "It's not that long ago that we were also ashamed in Germany." The idea that a bride should be a virgin was still widespread in the 1950s.
The Commission might consider implementing acts to regulate the sale and use of these products, ensuring they are marketed ethically and do not exploit women's fears or perpetuate misconceptions. Despite the controversy, the demand for such products continues to grow, especially in cultures where virginity is highly valued.
