Is she or isn’t she? A virgin that is. In conservative cultures, that is still a major issue when it comes to a bride on her wedding night.

In many, but not all cases, a virgin bleeds the first time she has sexual intercourse because of the tearing of the hymen, a membrane that surrounds or partially covers the external vaginal opening. It can be a big problem for brides expected to be virgins if there is no blood on the sheets the morning after.

In extreme cases, unstained sheets can lead to honor killings of girls or women thought to have brought shame on their families. Although most honor killings are not reported as such, it has been estimated that some 5,000 take place globally per year.

Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up

A German company has come to the rescue of women for whom an intact hymen is critical. The company, VirginiaCare, claims it can “restore” a woman’s virginity without painful or costly surgery. It sells an artificial hymen, which it says does the necessary job. All a woman needs to do is insert the artificial hymen inside her vagina approximately 30 minutes before intercourse on her wedding night, and her husband will be none the wiser.

The company explains on its website that the artificial hymen, essentially a small, thin pouch containing bovine blood, self-dissolves from moisture and heat during intercourse.

“The bovine blood comes out just at the right time and in the right amount,” the VirginiaCare website states.

Customers have the choice of red-brown blood or an “advanced” cherry-red blood. The latter hue, which contains red food coloring, was apparently devised in response to client feedback.

A pack of two artificial hymens — whichever color you choose — will set you back €49.50 (about $54). Rather costly, but possibly well worth the expense if your and your family’s honor depends on it.

The company, which is web-based only, also sells ViaTight firming gel, meant to tighten the vaginal entrance. It recommends that women buy both this and the artificial hymen to simulate virginity to its fullest.

“One should also try to clench up and feign pain during the sexual intercourse so that the whole thing appears even more realistic,” the company offers as an added tip.

A spokesman for VirginiaCare told The Times of Israel that the company has been in business for five years, and that it receives approximately 100 orders from around the world every month. The company’s customers are mainly Muslims, and some are Christians and Jews.

“There are a few from Israel,” is all the spokesman would offer when asked which countries the Jewish customers were from.