Hymen – appearance, functions. Break of the hymen

Proven content

The hymen is a small and very flexible fold of skin. Breaking it is very emotional for many young people. What does the hymen look like and where is it located? Here is some information.

You need to know that the same openings can get into the vagina mobile sperm, which easily travel even further – towards the egg – ready for fertilization. Therefore, it is worth remembering that the hymen is not a sufficient barrier against pregnancy.

Hymen – appearance

The thickness and shape of the hymen vary and depend on several factors. First of all, however, from genes, hormones and past infections. What does the hymen look like? Its shape can be varied and take one of the following:

1. annular hymen;
2. crescent (crescent hymen);
3. strzępiasty (hymenal caruncles);
4. sitowaty (cribriform hymen);
5. with a septum (septate hymen);
6. zrośnięty (imperforate hymen).

The vast majority of women have a semi-ducal hymen (about 80% of female newborns), where the fold of the skin is only partially attached to the vaginal wall, or even to a lesser extent, and then the opening is so large that the woman does not feel that the hymen ruptured at the time of first intercourse. The jagged shape is much less common (approx. 19%). When the hymen is marginal (annular) in shape, although the mucosa surrounds the entire entrance to the vagina, it only slightly closes it.

The situation is different with the septal hymen where a thin piece of tissue that runs through the center of the vaginal opening forms what looks like two openings. A woman with this type of hymen has regular menstrual blood flow but may not be able to use a tampon or menstrual cup.

This is very rare (occurs in 1-2 in 1000 babies), but sometimes we can talk about no opening in the hymen. In this case, the hymen completely covers the vaginal opening. This situation requires a minor operation, called a hymenectomy, to allow the menstrual fluid to escape. Acute urinary retention may occasionally occur in newborns who lack a hole in the hymen.

An interesting case is also the perforated hymen and the ethmoid hymen. They form a tight shell that closes the vagina, but have numerous smaller openings that allow menstrual blood to drain. Women with such hymen may not be able to use tampons or menstrual cups.

See also: Vaginoplasty

1. Before puberty, the hymen is thin and can be sensitive.
2. During puberty, high levels of hormones (estrogens) make the hymen and other vaginal tissues thicker and more stretchy.
3. During pregnancy, the increased hormones cause the vaginal tissues to stretch even more to allow for labor.
4. Childbirth can also change the shape of the hymen and vaginal tissues.
5. With menopause and aging, the hymen and other vaginal tissues become thinner again (as estrogen levels decline).

See also: Hormones under control, i.e. the hormonal profile for women

You should be aware that the hymen can get damaged during many activities. Here are some examples:

1. Horse Riding;
2. gymnastics;
3. cycling;
4. using tampons or menstrual cups;
5. gynecological examination by a gynecologist.

In addition, some people believe that a woman’s hymen is indicative of whether or not she is a virgin. Neither the size of the hymen nor the vagina is reliable evidence that penetration has occurred.

Keep in mind that virginity is a social construct and not a medical term. It usually refers to sex, between a man and a woman, during which the penis is inside the vagina and omits other forms of sex. It should be added at this point that myths about virginity can do a lot of damage. In the past and also today, people used virginity as a measure of women’s moral chastity and worth. Failure to prove virginity can have serious consequences in some communities.

See also: What is dyspareunia?

If a woman has a hymen, it may stretch or tear during her first penetrative intercourse, although not necessarily, especially if she has already been damaged by other activities.

If the hymen ruptures or stretches, it may hurt and may cause slight bleeding. However, many women have a pleasant first experience of this type of sex. It all depends on the person and their body.

It’s also important to recognize other factors that can be causing pain during sex, including:

1. low level of hydration;
2. nervousness that can cause the muscles around the vagina to tighten;
3. allergic reactions to condoms or lubricants, which can cause stinging or stinging;
4. urinary tract infections;
5. other genital infections, such as yeast infections or sexually transmitted infection (STI), some of which can be spread through oral sex.

Being comfortable and being prepared for your “first time” can help prevent some of the potential causes of pain.

See also: Vaginal dryness – causes, symptoms, treatment

Hymen – how to prepare for the “first time”

Here are some ways women can prepare for their first sexual experiences. These methods do not guarantee a painless first intercourse, but they can help you feel more comfortable, relax and prepare.

Try masturbation

Masturbation can help a woman get to know her body and what she likes and dislikes. This can help her communicate with her partner during sex.

Discuss the topic of contraception

If a person planning penetrant intercourse wants to avoid pregnancy, they should talk to their partner about contraception and do some research. If someone else’s partner has had sex before, it’s best to use the barrier method as a precaution. This may include the use of a male or female condom, which also prevents the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.

See also: World AIDS Day. How is HIV combated? [WE EXPLAIN]

Don’t be afraid to talk about your doubts

Anyone who gets nervous about their first sexual intercourse should discuss this with their partner. Your partner may be able to cheer you up, or he may feel upset himself. Being open and honest can help people calm down and come closer to each other.

Get partner approval

Sex should be a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. Everyone should be sure that they want to have sex before starting sex and get their partner’s consent.

Foreplay and hydration

Foreplay can help stimulate the vagina to secrete fluid that provides hydration. Store-bought lubricants can also be used. Both natural and synthetic lubricants reduce the friction of the penis as it enters the vagina. They also make it easier to insert and remove the penis.

It is important for people who use condoms to choose water-based lubricants as oil-based lubricants can damage condoms. An older study from 1989 suggests that contact with mineral oils can break a latex condom in as little as 1 minute.

Do not rush

Having sex gradually and slowly can help relax your vaginal muscles and help you get used to the feeling of penetration.

See also: Loss of virginity. When is the time for the first time?

Hymen – pain after intercourse

If the rupture or stretching of the hymen causes pain, you can try:

1. wrap an ice pack in a clean cloth and place it near the vaginal opening;
2. sit in a cool bath;
3. take advantage of over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol);
4. avoid penetrating sex until the pain is gone.

If the pain persists, it may indicate a medical problem that requires treatment.

See also: What does the pain in the lower abdomen after intercourse show?

This may indicate that the woman has a small vaginal opening due to a less common type of hymen. Your doctor may recommend a hymenectomy to enlarge the opening. In addition, anyone who experiences severe or persistent pain or bleeding during or after intercourse should speak to a doctor.

In addition, it is important to discuss any symptoms that may indicate an STI with your doctor. They include:

1. itchy genitals;
2. genital ulcers or rash;
3. edema;
4. unusual vaginal discharge;
5. painful urination.

See also: The seven most common venereal diseases

Hymen – popular myths

Myth – Penetration during sex will damage the hymen

Some people believe that any action can cause it to burst. Therefore, it is not uncommon for girls to exercise caution when cycling, or for young women to avoid the use of tampons for fear that they may damage the hymen.

The hymen has cuts, folds, and crevices, even in its virgin state. It is flexible and has a different thickness. Some hymen are thin and some are thicker than others. In case of penetration, the hymen may be damaged. However, quite often the hymen stretches and remains intact.

It is therefore inappropriate to think that the sexual act will always result in changes to the hymen. There have been many cases that have shown that women with a ring-shaped hymen can in fact be sexually active for years.

The hymen can have a large opening and several crevices here and there; this is the type of hymen that many mistakenly believe to mean that a woman has experienced sexual penetration. Therefore, sexologists, gynecologists, and family doctors are often reluctant to ask for an opinion on whether a woman is a virgin based on the condition of her hymen.

Damage to the hymen is not easy to determine – so many studies have shown that forensic experts dealing with child sexual abuse cases are often unable to see signs of harassment of a female child on the hymen. This is especially true if the child is taken to hospital some time after the mistreatment.

See also: Pedophile at the Budzik clinic. How to recognize bad touch?

Myth – A tight vaginal opening is evidence of an intact hymen

The second aspect that is frequently checked is the tightness of the vagina. There is a common belief that a woman who is sexually intact has a tight vaginal opening due to an intact hymen and that a man can recognize this during intercourse.

This is a wrong assumption. The pressure of the vagina is not caused by the hymen but caused by a contraction of the pelvic floor muscle. The more it is contracted, the narrower the vaginal canal. It’s worth noting that when a woman experiences anxiety, especially when it comes to sex, she automatically tightens the pelvic floor. Many doctors attribute this as the reason why a virgin woman is often perceived as “narrow” by her partner.

Women who want to be “narrower” are often advised by doctors to practice pelvic contraction. It’s like holding back when you want to urinate, but you just can’t do it yet.

See also: Kegel muscles in women and men. How to exercise your Kegel muscles?

Myth – You can tell if a woman is a virgin by whether or not she bleeds during sex

It is impossible to tell if a woman is a virgin or not by whether she is bleeding at the time of her “first time”. About half of the women bleed the first time they have sex, and half of the women don’t bleed. Both are perfectly normal.

Bleeding can be from small ruptures in the hymen or from the vagina itself. The bleeding should be lighter than the menstrual period and should not last more than a few days as these wounds heal quickly due to the good blood supply.

Some hymen are more stretchy than others and never break or bleed. It is not possible to tell by looking at the hymen whether a woman has had penetrative sex or not.

Other factors such as vaginal dryness, lack of excitement, skin conditions (infection or inflammation), and harsh (rough) sexual intercourse can also cause bleeding.

It is worth mentioning that the rebuilding of the hymen is very often decided by wealthy Arab women who had sexual contacts before marriage. So they go to private clinics and for quite a lot of money they decide to rebuild the hymen.

As later argued, the term “hymen” does not always reflect the actual state of affairs. The skin fold can be felt even in women who have had intercourse many times, and on the other hand – there are situations where the hymen is not felt at all. Therefore, doctors are not able to unequivocally assess whether a woman has started intercourse or not.