Now, for the modest fee of $2,900, women can reclaim their virginity.

A story published on nytimes.com states that a growing number of Muslim women in Europe are having a procedure known as a hymenoplasty done in order to be able to pass themselves off as virgins. Virginity is a very serious issue in the Muslim community, and for many women this procedure can effect how they are perceived in the community, and offer them a new lease on life.

According to the New York Times story, gynecologists say that in recent years, more Muslim women are seeking certificates of virginity as a way of being able to prove their sexual purity. “If you’re a Muslim woman growing up in more open societies in Europe, you can easily end up having sex before marriage,” said Dr. Hicham Mouallem, a London-based gynecologist who performs the hymenoplasty procedure. “So if you’re looking to marry a Muslim and don’t want to have problems, you’ll try to recapture your virginity.”

The procedure entails re-attaching the hymen with 10 dissolving stitches. It is believed that the repaired hymen will respond the same as one that has never been broken, and will even produce bleeding when pierced the second time.

The hymenoplasty procedure is advertised widely on the Internet, and though the cost of the operation is said to be around $2,900, the service is advertised in countries such as Tunisia for a lower price.