Section 156: Offence of carrying out hymenoplasty: Northern Ireland

Health and Care Act 2022 · 2022 c. 31View on legislation.gov.uk

Part 5: Virginity testing and hymenoplasty offences — CHAPTER 2: Hymenoplasty offences

It is an offence under the law of Northern Ireland for a person to carry out hymenoplasty.

“Hymenoplasty” means the reconstruction of the hymen (with or without consent).

An offence is committed under subsection (1) only if the person—

is in Northern Ireland, or
is outside the United Kingdom, and is a United Kingdom national or habitually resident in Northern Ireland.

“United Kingdom national” means an individual who is—

a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen, a British National (Overseas) or a British Overseas citizen,
a person who under the British Nationality Act 1981 is a British subject, or
a British protected person within the meaning of that Act.

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This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.