7 Ironclad Facts About the Hymen That Many Don”t Know
There are so many myths about the hymen, and many of them are completely untrue. Women themselves may know virtually nothing about their bodies, especially their hymens, and believe various misconceptions and misrepresentations. The purpose of this article is to highlight some interesting, true facts about the hymen (or virgin membrane).
Contents:
7 Facts About the Hymen
- Where is it located and what does it look like?
Let”s start with what the hymen is. The hymen (or virgin membrane) is a thin, mucous tissue or, more simply, a fold of skin (not a film or “barrier”!). It is located around the entrance to a woman”s vagina. Most girls have hymens, and each hymen is different.
A surprising fact: animals (more specifically, mammals) also have hymens. Examples include chimpanzees, elephants, whales, and horses. The primary function of the hymen is to protect the internal genital organs and vagina from infections and pathogenic microflora.
- The hymen usually wears away by adolescence.
Let”s consider the changes in the hymen throughout a girl”s life. As the fetus develops in the uterus, the vagina initially forms a hard tube, then becomes a hollow tube. The vaginal opening widens, and the remainder of this tube forms the hymen. The hymen is thick in newborns but becomes thin and smooth by around 4 years of age.
During puberty and adolescence, the hymen (or tunica virginis) grows, and the opening of the hymen enlarges, becoming larger and more elastic. During this period, damage to the hymen can occur due to the use of tampons, especially if the hymen has more than one opening.
Every woman”s first experience is different. It”s impossible to generalize about all situations. Women don”t always experience pain during their first time. Often, there”s no pain at all. It all depends on the woman”s level of self-awareness and arousal at the time.
If during the first sex a girl is not psychologically ready for sex, if she is afraid or not aroused enough, spasms of the vaginal muscles occur and severe pain is felt. The girl tenses from fear of pain or other fears, and the vaginal muscles contract, preventing the penetration of the penis.
- Blood during first sex is also not due to a ruptured hymen.
Please note that during the first sexual intercourse there may be no blood at all. The virgin membrane is elastic and is not affected by the first sexual intercourse. Such cases are not uncommon. It also depends on the partner, his physiological characteristics and behavior during sex.
Bleeding or hemorrhage can be caused by sexual preferences, behavior of the partner. Bleeding due to injury to the cervix or vagina, promiscuity, careless use of adult toys (or other objects), injury may be caused by the partner”s anatomy, etc.
Read also: Where exactly is the hymen located?
Girls are very naturally interested in the structure of their bodies, especially since their genitals are not as easy to study as men”s. However, sexual.
There is another reason for bleeding — the onset of menstruation. This can occur in girls with irregular menstrual cycles. How and why? Uterine tone is the result of sexual activity, followed by changes in hormonal levels and the onset of menstruation.
In the absence of menstruation, there may be a long-term loss of blood flow after the first sex. In addition, if there is too much blood, the discharge of blood can be dangerous to the girl”s health, as well as bleeding. Therefore, in this case, you should consult your doctor immediately.
- The hymen does not cover the entire vaginal opening.
Yes, the virgin membrane does not cover the entire vaginal opening. Otherwise, there would be no menstruation at all before the first sex. This is due to the fact that menstruation is accompanied by bleeding in both virgins and sexually active girls. Therefore, the myth that the virgin”s membrane is a film is completely ridiculous.
“Innocence” Doesn”t Exist. Debunking Myths About the Hymen
- 1 in 200 women have an “imperforate” hymen.
There are exceptions to the rule, although in most girls the virgin does not completely cover the vaginal opening. In rare cases, the virgin membrane may not have an opening, i. e. completely cover the vaginal opening. Such virgin membranes are called imperforate.
Non-porous virgin membranes are a feature of the physiological structure of the girl. Due to the fact that the virgin membrane closes the vaginal opening, menstrual blood is not produced.
This feature may be associated with complications. Since the blood does not flow anywhere, it accumulates over time, forming hematocolpos and hematometra. Failure to see a doctor in a timely manner can lead to infection, the development of endometritis and subsequent infertility. By contacting a gynecologist, this problem can be solved with one planned operation.
- Historically, people have gone to great lengths to prove that the hymen was torn after marriage.
There are many stories of in-laws or the husbands themselves checking the sheets on their wedding night to confirm the only evidence of the bride”s virginity, evidence that the girl had not had sex before marriage. Her husband is blood.
For example, in the Middle Ages, immediately before the wedding, the king”s bride was taken to the court midwife for an examination to find out whether the bride was a virgin, but the midwife had to check the integrity of the virgin membrane. If the virgin membrane did not match, the girl was disgraced and branded for life.
And in some countries this tradition continues to this day. So many women have suffered from these tests, and in many cases girls have undergone surgery — hymenoplasty — to surgically restore their “virginity”. Nowadays, there are still people who believe that the number of sexual partners a girl has affects the genetic purity of the child, but this is undoubtedly ridiculous.
People who do not know the physiological characteristics of a woman judge her. Ignorance has given rise to unimaginable myths, and some people still believe in them. This article should help debunk these myths and reveal the truth. This article will also help girls who have a desire to learn more about physiology.
