Upon RTL’s request, Pit Duschinger, president of the Association of Luxembourgish Gynecologists (SLGO), announced that they are relieved to hear that virginity certificates and hymenorrhaphies will no longer be allowed. A hymenorrhaphy is a surgery which reconstructs the hymen.
Last week, the health commission in the Chamber discussed a corresponding draft bill, also foreseeing the abolition of the obligatory three-day decision period preceding an abortion. Luxembourgish gynaecologists have mixed opinions when it comes to the latter topic.
The association decided to keep the three-day period after discussing it with the minister of Health Martine Deprez. Pit Duschinger explains:
“The simple reason is that while we don’t want to patronise our patients, we do want to protect them from reactions originating from a source of panic, which commonly happen in these situations.”
In general, at least two to three days pass between a first consultation and the actual abortion.
“Not every woman comes into the doctor’s office expecting to have an abortion and be done with it when she leaves again”, the president elaborates. “This space of time is preserved due to the methods that are applied. We operate well with the waiting period.”
However, the gynaecologists fully support the prohibition of virginity certificates and hymenorrhaphies.
“I don’t think there is anything more discriminating and degrading than being asked for a proof of virginity or going through a hymen reconstruction”, Pit Duschinger adds.
The president of SLGO does not know any gynaecologists who offer a hymenorraphies in Luxembourg, nor has he ever been asked for one or a virginity certificate in his 35 years of working as a gynaecologist.
