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Virginia Governor and possible 2012 Republican vice presidential running mate Bob McDonnell has signed into law the controversial abortion bill requiring women to have an ultrasound before getting their child aborted. The age of the fetus will determine whether the abortion could legally take place or not. The bill has sparked severe opposition from women’s groups and supporters of abortion rights, calling the invasive vaginal probe as a humiliating process.

McDonnell, a conservative against abortion rights, signed the bill into law on Wednesday, despite continued opposition from various advocate groups. The revised version of the bill was ultimately passed by the Virginia House of Delegates that allows women to refuse undergoing a transvaginal ultrasound and can instead choose to have an abdominal ultrasound that generates less information about the stage of pregnancy.

In the statement issued on Wednesday, McDonnell said he continued to support provision of detailed information so that any women who want to get an abortion base their decision on the correct information.

"This bill does not legally alter a woman's ability to make a choice regarding her pregnancy," the statement says. "It does, however, put Virginia in line with 23 other states that have some type of requirement that a woman be offered a view of an ultrasound before an abortion can be performed." The bill will go into effect on July 1.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins says the law comes as a victory for the women of Virginia and their unborn children. "We thank Gov. McDonnell and Virginia's pro-life legislators for their work to ensure that women have all the facts and no longer be kept in the dark about their pregnancies," Perkins said.

However, while some are extending their support towards the bill, many abortion rights advocate groups think the legislation is doing nothing but to shame Virginia women and is unprecedentedly invading the privacy into doctor’s offices and inside people’s homes.

"The overwhelming public response to the radical agenda that Republican extremists in Richmond and in Washington are trying to force on American families has left many right-wing politicians looking for a way to dodge accountability for their actions, until they can find away to change the subject," said Brian Moran, chairman of the Virginia Democratic Party.

The opponents of the law are trying to raise the issue to national prominence, calling it as an attack on American women.