The hymen is a thin elastic membrane located at the entrance to the vagina. It is often associated with a sign of virginity but it is not. Absent, closed, thick, annular hymen: diagram and anatomy.
The hymen is a membrane that separates the vagina from the vulva. There are as many women as there are marriages. It can break during the first sexual relationship (loss of virginity) but this is not systematic. It may also be absent in some women.
What is the definition of hymen?
The word hymen comes from the Greek “humen” which means “membrane”. The hymen is a thin membrane located at the entrance to the vagina, variable in shape from one woman to another (diagram below). The hymen is pierced with an orifice which let menstrual blood flow. The hymen can break during first sexual intercourse (but not always). He is illusory to associate a hymen that is no longer intact with the sole loss of virginity (defloration). Extremely flexible, the hymen does not prohibit a virgin girl from using tampons. In some girls, thehymen is absent.
Anatomical diagram of the hymen
“It is a ring that is inserted between the vestibule which is at the level of the vulva on the outer side and the vagina which is on the inside. The hymen is not a partition, it is by definition permeable. Except in case of anomaly or malformation, you can slip a little finger through the hymen to enter the vagina, as well as a tampon without tearing it and without hurting. During the first report, this ring will tear in several places to a depth of about two millimeters. Then it will make a little lace. Instead of being a one-piece ring, it will be discontinuous and will look like a little lace. As for the composition, it is the same skin as that of the vagina, it is the mucous membrane which makes about 1mm thick “, explains Dr Odile Bagot, author of the book “Vagin & Cie we tell you everything” published by Mango. .
Do you bleed when the hymen breaks?
“Often, in women’s fantasy, the hymen is something that is closed when by definition it is open because he ignores the rules. It is important to specify that this ring is elastic, which means that even in first gear, it does not will not necessarily tear (and lead to more or less heavy bleeding) but just stretch. Bleeding on first intercourse is not mandatory, more than half of women don’t bleed. We can absolutely be a virgin and not bleed on first intercourse” continues the gynecologist.
What is the role of the hymen?
“The hymen has no specific role. We can say that in the little girl, it protects the inside of the vagina a little but it has no physiological or sexological role. There only usefulness of the hymen would perhaps be cultural and religious as a symbol of virginity but it remains only a symbol”, says the specialist.
Rupture of the hymen and loss of virginity
The presence of the hymen is not a marker of virginity : neither its presence nor its absence mean that the woman is a virgin or not, the latter is the only one to know what it is. During the first sexual intercoursethe penetration of the man’s penis into the woman’s vagina can rupture the hymen and “cause more or less heavy bleeding and moderate pain because attenuated by sexual arousal.” Sometimes, the girl does not bleed during her first sexual intercourse, either because she has no hymen or because her hymen is soft enough to allow penetration.
On the health forum: discussions about the hymen
To remember
► The hymen is a thin membrane that closes the opening of the vagina.
► The hymen is open since it allows the rules to pass.
► The hymen is not necessarily torn at the first sexual intercourse.
► The presence of the hymen can in no way be a marker of virginity.
► Extremely flexible, the hymen does not prohibit a virgin girl from using tampons.
Sources:
Questions d’ados – adolescent sexual health brochure, Public Health France.