What's happening
This bill bans health care practitioners from performing or supervising virginity examinations, except during forensic medical exams.
Why it matters
Addresses a discredited medical practice. The bill responds to scientific consensus that virginity examinations are not medically valid and cannot reliably determine sexual history, reflecting current medical ethics and evidence.
Protects patients from harm and trauma. By prohibiting these exams, except in forensic contexts, the bill aims to prevent the psychological and physical harm—such as shame, anxiety, and bodily violation—that patients may experience from such procedures.
Aligns New York with international human rights standards. The legislation follows recommendations from major organizations like the World Health Organization and United Nations, which consider virginity testing a violation of human rights and dignity.
Limits exceptions to legal investigations. The only exception is for forensic medical examinations, ensuring that such exams are only used when legally necessary (e.g., for evidence in sexual assault cases), not for cultural, familial, or non-medical reasons.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Virginity Examinations
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to women's issues
- Referred to women's issues
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Ban Virginity Exams
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor Michaelle C. Solages
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1283
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2025
Introduced by Sens. PERSAUD, FERNANDEZ, HINCHEY, HOYLMAN-SIGAL, JACKSON, KRUEGER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Women's Issues
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to prohibiting virginity examinations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative intent: Virginity examinations are gynecological examinations of the female genitalia purported to establish whether a female has had vaginal intercourse by correlating the absence of the hymen or vaginal wall laxity with sexual activity. Reproductive experts contend that there is no scientific merit or clinical indication for this type of examination, as these characteristics do not definitively prove that a female has had intercourse. Experts also note that there are significant adverse psychological and physical consequences for individuals who have been subjected to these tests. Numerous organizations, including the World Health Organization, United Nations Human Rights Office, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and International Society for Sexual Medicine have called for the elimination of virginity examinations as they are not medically indicated or valid procedures, and their performance violates the human rights of the individual subject to the test. It is the intent of the legislature to recognize that gynecological examinations purported to determine whether a female has had vaginal intercourse have no scientific merit, are not medically indicated, and cause psychological and physical trauma for the recipient; and as such, health care practitioners licensed by and practicing in the state of New York should be prohibited from conducting or supervising these examinations.
§ 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 267-c to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03315-01-5
§ 267-c. Prohibition of virginity examinations. 1. For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Virginity examination" shall mean any physical gynecological exam or inspection of the female genitalia purported to determine whether a female has previously had vaginal intercourse.
(b) "Health care practitioner" means a health care practitioner licensed, certified or otherwise authorized to practice under title eight of the education law, acting within the practitioner's lawful scope of practice.
2. No health care practitioner shall perform a virginity examination or supervise the performance of a virginity examination on a patient.
3. This section shall not apply to any physical gynecological examination conducted as part of a forensic medical examination.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to prohibiting virginity examinations
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of the bill is to prevent the performance of examinations on women that purport to ascertain whether a woman has previously had vagi- nal intercourse.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of the bill adds the legislative intent; to recognize that gynecological examinations used to determine virginity in a female has no significant merit, are not medically indicated, and cause psycholog- ical and physical trauma for the recipient. Health care practitioners of NYS should be prohibited from conducting or supervising these examina- tions.
Section 2 adds a new section 267-b. defining "Virginity Examinations", "Health Care practitioner" and includes the carve out for forensic medical examinations not being applicable.
Section 3 sets the effective date.
Justification
According to the World Health Organization., "virginity testing" is an inspection of the female genitalia meant to determine whether a woman or girl has had vaginal intercourse.
The term "virginity" is not a medical or scientific term. The concept of virginity is a social, cultural and religious construct that has histor- ically been used to discriminate against women and girls. According to clinical experts, "virginity testing" is not a medically indicated or valid examination or test. Physical examinations purported to assess virginity are without basis.
"Virginity testing" has been associated with adverse psychosocial and physical outcomes and is considered a violation of human rights. The United Nations, along with the World Health Organization, U.N. Women and U.N. Human Rights, called for a total ban on the practice.
Indeed, according to the World Health Organization's 2016 interagency statement calling for the elimination of "virginity testing", a number of medical professionals, health care associations and human rights organizations have explicitly condemned "virginity testing" as unscien- tific and harmful.
This legislation would ban so-called "virginity tests" to end this harm- ful practice and that medical providers in New York state do not perpet- uate a myth that has been used to discriminate against women and girls.
Prior legislative history
2023-2024: S931-A Referred to Women's Issues in the Senate; Passed Assembly.
2021-2022: S104-B Referred to Women's Health
2019-2021: S6879 Referred to Rules/ Women's Issues
Fiscal implications
None noted.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.