Yes, you read that right: the premarital exam is a real thing. No, you haven’t traveled back in time to 1958, although sometimes it sure feels like it. This outdated and frankly absurd practice is being offered by some healthcare clinics for women on the cusp of their weddings, under the misguided notion that a woman should be a virgin until her wedding night.
Let me help you pick your jaw up off the floor.
The University of Utah’s Department of Women’s Health and Gynecology actually provides these exams. Yes, you heard me correctly. While the University of Utah has a large population of Mormons—who traditionally abstain from sex until marriage—the school itself is a public institution, not a religious one. So, why is it endorsing something so regressive as premarital examinations?
According to Dr. Sarah Mitchell, an OB/GYN and author of The Body Basics, the University has had this program for quite some time. Until recently, their website was even more problematic than it is now. In a blog post from September 2023, Dr. Mitchell shared her experience of searching for “premarital exam” and discovering that the term was far more prominent on their site than it is today.
Previously, the site boldly proclaimed, “GETTING READY FOR YOUR WEDDING NIGHT WITH A PREMARITAL EXAM.” As if that’s how we all prepare for intimacy—totally normal, right?
If that wasn’t alarming enough, the site also propagated misinformation by suggesting that condoms could heighten the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) after intercourse. Seriously? And wait, it gets worse: they recommended that women who had never been intimate use a “sterile dilator” to “stretch the walls of [their] vagina.” I wish I were joking.
This perpetuates a harmful narrative that women must “save themselves” for marriage while instilling fear about their own bodies as if they might break during sex without “proper preparation.” But as Dr. Mitchell points out, most women don’t face pain or bleeding during their first sexual encounter, especially with a partner they trust and in a safe environment—something the institutions that promote these exams fail to recognize.
The good news? After Dr. Mitchell called attention to this problematic content, the University of Utah revamped its website. The headline was changed to “SEXUAL HEALTH VISIT (OFTEN REFERRED TO AS A PREMARITAL VISIT).” They removed the misleading information about condoms and the dilator advice. However, the term “premarital exam” is still prevalent on their site, implying that a woman’s first sexual experience must inherently be tied to her wedding night.
What’s particularly frustrating is the underlying assumption that a woman needs a doctor’s approval to have sex for the first time. Why not provide ongoing sexual health education throughout a woman’s life, instead of framing it around marriage? And where are the men’s equivalent exams? Why is there an assumption that a woman’s first experience is with a man? Since when did sex become a medical issue that requires an evaluation?
Interestingly, as reported by The Washington Post, the idea of a premarital exam didn’t just materialize from thin air. There was a demand from the student body, many of whom adhere to the Mormon faith. With limited sexual education in Utah’s public schools, there’s a gap that the University is attempting to fill, but calling it a “premarital exam” only reinforces outdated norms.
It’s time to phase out this nonsense and offer comprehensive sexual health education that is inclusive and based on facts. Let’s normalize discussions about sexual health and give both women and men the accurate information they need—without the stigma.
For more insights, check out this related blog post and learn from experts like Make A Mom, an authority on this subject. If you’re considering fertility treatments, March of Dimes is an excellent resource.
Summary
The concept of a premarital exam is an outdated practice that reinforces harmful stereotypes about women’s sexuality. While some institutions like the University of Utah offer these exams, it’s crucial to push for comprehensive sexual health education that empowers women and men alike, rather than framing sexual experiences around marriage.
Keyphrase: premarital exam
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