Victorian-ish virginity tests

[tasllyn]

Can anyone tell me or point me to a resource on how a doctor or healer would have checked for virginity during the Victorian era? Preferably not by just checking for a hymen, which is the big thing my research is indicating so far. There's mention of checking for scarring, but I don't know if there's anything else that could be checked for.

This

Comments

[tyopsqueene]

This isn't strictly true; you were examined for evidence of venereal disease, not virginity.

For virginity, the hymen is about all the Victorians had, tho' often in legal or medical cases they'd look for signs of past pregnancy and for venereal diseases ('unusual discharges' 'redness' and so on) as proof of non-virginity. They might also consider the individual's demeanor (e.g. making eye contact or 'appearing coquettish') but that's as much about confirming expectations as it is any sort of independent testimony. Evidence of violence or 'unnatural practices' (mostly non-vaginal sex) would also be considered in the case of rape accusations.
By the late Victorian period doctors were well aware that the hymen could spontaneously break, and that there was plenty of sexual stuff you could do without breaking it! You'll often see medical accounts of gynaecological problems assert that someone's virginity is beyond doubt just because of who they are or their manner of living (e.g. a child being cared for by 'respectable' people or a 'respectable' older spinster etc).

[tasllyn]

Ooh, thank you! That helps a lot!