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Hymen definition and virginity definition
Hymen anatomy
Hymen: what is important to know!

The hymen is a thin pinkish membrane which partially closes the entrance of the vagina and which exists only in the human being. This membrane has a big socio-cultural importance but has no known physiological role.

The definition of virginity that we can find on a dictionary is the following: The state of a man or a woman who never had sexual relations with penetration.

Many people consider that hymen is a mark of female virginity and the non-tearing of the frenulum as a mark of male virginity. In reality, hymens are anatomically very different so it is very difficult to determine if there was penetration or not with a male sex. Indeed, some hymens are very elastic, and do not tear during a sexual relation, and some hymens can tear with fingers or toys penetration or even during a physical traumatism. Therefore, a woman can still consider herself a virgin as long as she did not have sexual relation with penetration of a male sex.

It is the same for man. During masturbation, a man can tear his frenulum whereas he did not have sexual relation with penetration and then he can still consider himself a virgin.

The hymen is visible once the labia minora are spread, and is located under the urinary meatus (external opening of the urinary canal). Its shape and its dimensions are variable: often it is of annular shape surrounding the vaginal entrance, thin and more or less riddled with small holes. Rarely, it can be thick and can close completely the vaginal entrance or on the contrary, be almost non-existent.

In most cases, the hymen, even intact, allows the introduction of a little finger or a small tampon but does not allow the introduction of a erected penis. The hymen is vascularized and has to tear during a penetration, what often leads to small bleeding.

In the rare cases of "thick, fleshy and compartmentalized" hymen, the penetration can be impossible and a small surgical intervention will then be necessary.

For a virgin woman who is used to put tampons, the first penetration will occur more easily and almost without pain.

For a woman who is not used to put tampons, the first penetration can be more sensitive because the anxiety (which can be more important for some women due to this first penetration) leads to a muscular contraction of the muscles surrounding the vagina making penetration more difficult. Sometimes, the clumsiness of the partner to find the entrance of the vagina as well as the vaginal dryness of the woman who is afraid of this first penetration may also make the penetration difficult. So according to me, it is important that young girls get used to put tampons during their period if their hymens allow it, which is mostly the case.

It is important to know that not all women bleed during their first sexual relation. The absence of bleeding can be explained by the fact that some women have a hymen sufficiently open and not really vascularized!

In some cultures, if the woman does not bleed during the first penetration it will mean that she is not virgin and this can be true but it can also be completely wrong! (Hymen tissue simply stretches during penetration rather than tear and bleed).

Moreover, it is rather difficult to know if a girl is still virgin, even with a gynecological examination, because hymens are anatomically very different from one to another and some woman does have an almost non-existent hymen.

Finally, it is important to know that hymen is not a impermeable membrane and there is a risk of pregnancy if your partner did ejaculate at the entrance of your vagina even if there was no penetration and no tearing of the hymen because spermatozoa which are on the hymen can penetrate into the vagina and go toward the uterus.