Hymen - What does it look like & where is it located? EVERYTHING you need to know

An epicenter of myths, that's how we could describe the subject we are approaching today. The hymen has long been considered a criterion for determining virginity and a taboo subject built on erroneous information. It is time to understand our own body better in order to protect our intimate health.

It all starts with the anatomy of the vulva. The female genital system includes both elements that we can see (externally) and some that we cannot see (internally). Together, they work as a whole and ensure the normal, healthy functioning of your body.

What is the hymen?

First, the hymen is not a membrane. This is actually a thin, pliable layer of tissue inside the opening of the vagina, near its external opening. There is a lot of confusion regarding its appearance, as many people think that the hymen completely covers the entrance to the vagina, while the reality is different.

The hymen is never completely closed. Most hymens have one or more openings that allow menstrual blood to drain from the vagina. Some people are born with a fibrous hymen, others are born without a hymen, which is a congenital malformation. In addition, there are no identical hymens, they differ in shape and size.

What does the hymen do?

The physiological role of the hymen is even today unknown. Although it does not seem to have a specific function, experts say that the hymen is a remnant of the development of the vagina, which prevents bacteria and dirt from entering the vagina. In the case of children, the hymen can prevent objects from being pushed into the vagina.

Location - Where is the hymen?

The hymen surrounds or partially covers the entrance to the vagina. Of course, it can be positioned differently around the vaginal opening and can have many shapes and sizes.

Can the hymen be seen?

Although the hymen can theoretically be seen, practically the position you have to have to see it is quite difficult. If you stand in front of a mirror with your feet apart, there's a good chance you can spot him.

The hymen & menstruation - Is there a connection?

Blood during menstruation leaves the body through the hole in the hymen. There is always a hole, smaller or larger, even in girls who have never had sex. This dispels the myth that the hymen completely covers the entrance to the vagina.
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What does the hymen look like? Types of hymen:

Your entire vulva is unique and you can't compare it to another person's, but you can step by step understand your body better and make the right choices to take care of it.

Knowing what is typical for you is not easy, and the truth is that the most important changes begin with menstruation. It is very important to remember that there is no standard that you must follow, and the hymen is no exception. Your hymen is unique, and as long as you're happy and healthy, there's nothing to worry about.

As there is no single type of hymen, we will divide them into categories.

Annular or half-moon hymen

The annular or crescent-shaped hymen is considered to be the most common form of hymen. It surrounds your vaginal opening like a ring or a donut and then as it breaks or stretches it looks more like a crescent. Menstrual flow is allowed to pass there.

If you have a ring-shaped or crescent-shaped hymen, it might look slightly different, depending on how the hymen stretched or broke.

Denticular hymen

This type of hymen has several tooth-like formations that surround the vaginal opening. Although it is not very common, it does not indicate health problems.

Hymen imperforate / imperforate

Imperforate hymens are very rare. It is estimated that between 1 in 1,000 people and 1 in 10,000 people have a hymen like this.

This is the type of hymen that completely covers the opening of the vagina. This prevents menstrual blood from flowing out of the vagina and can cause pain in the abdomen and pelvis as the blood gets trapped there.

Imperforate hymen can be diagnosed from birth, but in many cases the diagnosis is only fixed at puberty. Treatment consists of minor surgery to remove the excess tissue and create an opening to allow the menstrual flow to escape.

Septate hymen

Like the imperforate hymen, the septate hymen falls into the category of "rare cases". The thin hymen membrane has an extra strip of tissue in the middle, which causes two small vaginal openings instead of one. People with this type of hymen may have trouble inserting or removing a tampon. Penetrative sex can tear this extra tissue.

Treatment consists of minor surgery to remove the extra band of tissue and create a normal-sized vaginal opening.

Microperforated hymen

This type of hymen almost completely covers the opening of the vagina, except for a small opening. Because it is extremely small, menstrual fluid may remain trapped in the vagina or may only be eliminated in small amounts. It may also be difficult and painful to insert a tampon or other items.

As with imperforate hymen, treatment consists of removing excess tissue and more clearly defining the space not covered by the hymen.

Cibriform hymen

The cibriform hymen has lots of small holes in it, which can mean it's difficult to insert a tampon. It can also mean that it takes longer for menstrual blood to leave the body, leading to longer periods.

Elastic hymen - What does it mean?

The hymen is different from woman to woman or according to life stages. Some women are born without a hymen, while others seem to have none because it is so elastic that it expands without bleeding.

The hymen usually breaks during the first sexual contacts, even if you have an elastic hymen, but there is also the possibility that it does not break.

Does the elastic hymen have certain advantages or disadvantages?

Although we cannot say that one hymen is "better" or more "advantageous" than another, it is recognized that an elastic hymen can mean less pain at first intercourse and even no bleeding.

Broken hymen - What does this mean?

The hymen has been considered an indicator of female virginity since ancient times. The truth is that the hymen can be broken for reasons not directly related to sexual intercourse.

Rupture of the hymen, regardless of the causes, may be accompanied by insignificant bleeding or the decreased sensation of pain. Both of these consequences are normal and usually disappear after a while.

What does a broken hymen look like?

A broken hymen does not look much different from an "intact" one and its rupture is not a cause for concern.

How can the hymen break?

The hymen can fail in cases such as:

• accident or blow;

• when the body is overloaded (in the case of performance athletes);

• in the case of surgical interventions by inserting medical instruments into the vagina;

• after masturbation;

• in some cases without apparent causes.

Very rarely a hymen can break due to the use of an internal tampon. They do not pose a risk to your health if:

1. You choose the right size for you.

2. Use 100% organic tampons, preferably GOTS certified cotton.

3. Change the internal tampon every few hours.

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Our customers agree with us:

My gynecologist recommended me to use organic tampons and after a long search I found ENROUSH. These are the best tampons I have ever tried. The fact that they don't have all kinds of chemicals or fragrance makes them easy to wear without causing any irritation or breakouts on my skin, so I really recommend them wholeheartedly.

Bianca

Can a broken hymen be repaired?

Naturally, the hymen once broken cannot be restored. However, there is a surgical procedure called hymenoplasty that allows it to be restored.

What is the connection between loss of virginity & breaking the hymen?

Hymens vary in shape and size, so it is important to understand that they are not a relevant indicator of sexual activity. Its original form can be changed by masturbation, sex toys, but there are also situations when it remains completely unchanged. This means that it is not necessary for the hymen to be pierced during intercourse, which is why not all women will experience pain or bleeding during their first sexual experience.

Studies say that only 50% of women will bleed on their first intercourse.

So, the mentality that the woman must bleed at the first sexual experience remains a myth propagated by cultures where it is a custom or ritual for the bed linen to be shown publicly after the couple has spent the first night together. The blood meant that the woman was pure and had not had sexual relations before marriage. The reality is different and now we know that virginity is just...a Unicorn.

Ultimately, it's up to you to decide what "being a virgin" means, and it's certainly not defined by a small piece of tissue in your vagina that has, or hasn't, ruptured.

Hymenoplasty - What does it entail?

Except in societies and cultures where a woman's social status depended on the existence of the hymen (sign of purity), its value is rather insignificant. Even his role remains vague. However, plastic surgeons have developed a procedure called hymenoplasty, whereby the hymen is reconstructed.

Although such a procedure cannot psychologically restore "virgin" status, the operation may be beneficial to women whose lives may be endangered in its absence.

There are two types of hymenoplasty:

• simple hymenoplasty - restoration of the hymen

• hymenoplasty by hymen implant

In some countries, hymenoplasty is considered a form of female genital mutilation and is even outlawed to protect young women.

How does the hymen change throughout life?

When you are born, your doctor may check your hymen to see if you may need surgery to remove the tissue. However, at such a young age it is not always easy to figure out the shape of the hymen. The diagnosis may come much later, during puberty, once your period has started and you've struggled to insert a tampon, or you may notice that your bleeding is particularly long and painful.

However, most women won't even know their hymen is there. They won't even feel the fact that he's changing, even if he does.

• The hymen when you are born: When you are born, the hymen may appear thicker and fleshier, stiffer and more sensitive. Once you start puberty, your ovaries start producing the hormone estrogen, which can make the hymen tissue more elastic.

• Hymen rupture and loss of virginity: It is true that for some, the hymen may break or stretch when having penetrative sex, but this does not apply to everyone.

• Your Hymen During Labor and After Natural Birth: As with puberty, as estrogen levels increase during pregnancy, the tissue that makes up the hymen can become even more elastic to allow birth. Your hymen may stretch and tear more during labor as the baby comes out of the vagina.

Frequently asked questions

Are there any unanswered questions? Maybe you can find the information you were looking for here.

When do you know that the hymen is broken?

Think of your hymen as a ring that is stretched and sometimes breaks over time when something rubs against it or enters your vagina. Once it breaks, you may feel a little pain and there may be a short bleed, but it's also normal to feel nothing. In fact, you may not even notice when your hymen breaks.

Does an intact hymen mean you are a virgin?

Medically speaking, there is no such thing as an "intact" hymen because there is so much variation in shape, size, and thickness that it is not so easy to determine when it is "intact."

Moreover, the hymen does not determine whether you are a virgin or not, as it can break even in the most normal moments, unrelated to sexual activity (while doing sports, a Papa-Nicolau test, masturbating) or even not it never breaks.

How do I know if my hymen is healthy?

There are no indicators that determine whether or not your hymen is healthy, but as it is part of the female reproductive system, if you feel that something is wrong you should definitely see a gynecologist.