Easy Ways to Know the Condition of the Hymen

May 17, 2023By Nona Woman

Almost all women have a hymen in the vagina. However, questions often arise regarding how to know whether the hymen has been torn or is still intact. Please note that the hymen can be damaged or lost without having sexual intercourse.

Therefore, it is important to recognize the signs that indicate the condition of the hymen. How do you know whether the hymen has been torn or not? Are there any signs? Let's discuss it together in this article.

What is a Hymen?

The hymen is often shrouded in myth and misunderstanding. This is a part of the female body that is located in the vagina. This thin and elastic layer is generally shaped like a ring with a hole in the middle, and is located about 2-3 cm from the vaginal opening. Its function is still not known for certain, but the hymen has no direct connection with virginity.

The shape and color of the hymen is different for each woman. Some are pink, dark red, or even brownish, and their shapes can vary, from crescent moons to gate-like ones. It should be remembered that not all women are born with a hymen, and this does not indicate an abnormality.

As we get older, the hymen can change. Physical activities such as exercise, using tampons, or even just the natural growth of the body, can stretch or even tear the hymen without realizing it. It is important to remember that this condition is nothing to worry about, and has nothing to do with a woman's "virginity."

Myths surrounding the hymen often result in stigma and discrimination against women. It is important to understand that the hymen is a normal part of the body and does not determine a woman's worth.

Here are several types of hymen:

Imperforate: Covers the entire vagina, generally found in women entering puberty.
Microperforate: Covers almost the entire vagina with only one small hole.
Cribriform: Has several small holes.
Septate: Has two holes connected by skin tissue.

Understanding the right information about the hymen can help women avoid stigma and discrimination, and build self-confidence about their bodies.

Read also: Impact of Tampons on the Hymen

How to Ensure the Integrity of the Hymen

Apart from consulting a gynecologist, there is another method to check the integrity of the hymen, namely by carrying out an independent examination using a mirror and fingers.

Here are the steps you can do:

Make sure your hands are clean by washing your hands until they are completely clean.
Take a small mirror and sit in a chair in a comfortable position with your legs open.
Apply special lubricant to your fingers and hold the mirror carefully.
Point the mirror at the vaginal opening and open the vaginal lips using your index or middle finger.
To find out whether your hymen is still intact, pay attention to the thin, crescent-shaped membrane at the bottom of the vaginal opening.

By knowing the methods above, you can safely and comfortably monitor the condition of your own hymen without having to go to the doctor. This can be a good option for women who feel less confident about getting this condition checked. So, the method above can be an alternative that you can do yourself at home.

Signs of Tearing of the Hymen

Although it doesn't always cause symptoms, here are some signs that can indicate that the hymen is torn:

Bleeding or blood spots. Light bleeding or blood spots are the most common signs of a hymen tear. The blood color can be bright red, dark red, or brown. This bleeding usually only lasts for a few hours or days.
Pain in the vagina. A torn hymen can cause pain or discomfort in the vagina, especially during sexual intercourse. This pain is usually mild and will disappear in a few days.
Torn tissue. A tear in the hymen can be seen as torn tissue about 1-2 cm from the vaginal opening.
Absence of hymen. In some cases, a hymen tear does not leave any torn tissue. This means that, during the examination, no hymen will be found in the vagina.

However, to confirm the condition of the hymen, you can check it yourself or consult a gynecologist. If the hymen is damaged or torn, a surgical procedure can be performed to repair it and return it to its original condition.

Myths About the Hymen and Female Virginity

These myths are often rooted in patriarchal social and cultural norms, which base women's value on their physical "purity." Therefore, it is important to clear up these misconceptions in order to build a more accurate understanding of women's sexual and reproductive health.

1. The hymen tears after having sex

The assumption that the hymen will tear as a result of sexual intercourse is not entirely true. The function of the hymen is not directly related to sexual activity. The experience of having sex for the first time for women often causes discomfort or pain. However, this is not caused by tearing of the hymen.

Pain during intercourse for the first time is generally caused by a lack of lubrication fluid in the vagina. This lack of lubrication causes the vagina to become dry, causing pain. Therefore, lubricating fluids are very important for women when having sex.

Apart from lack of lubrication, there are various other factors that can cause the hymen to become torn or incomplete. Some of these include sports activities, tampon use, or accidents.

2. No blood spots appear when you have sex for the first time, meaning you are no longer a virgin

Not bleeding when having sex for the first time does not mean you are not a virgin. Many factors cause this to happen. One of them is that there is sufficient lubrication fluid so that the vagina is very ready for penetration.

Apart from that, there are also women who are born without a hymen. Therefore, it is very unfair if the hymen is used as a measure of a woman's virginity. Bleeding during sexual intercourse for the first time can be caused by a lack of lubricating fluid in the vagina, so that the vaginal tissue is injured.

3. A virgin's vagina feels narrow because the hymen is still intact

A hymen that is still intact can cause Miss V to feel narrower. However, this is not only caused by the hymen being still intact. There are many other factors that can make Miss V feel tight during intimate relations. One of these factors is contraction of the pelvic muscles.

4. All Women Have the Same Hymen

The hymen is a very thin layer of skin and is about 1-2 centimeters from the lips of Miss V. Every woman has a hymen with a different shape. The hymen will also change as a woman's vagina develops. Generally, women are born with a hymen. However, there are also women who are born without a hymen. Therefore, not all women's hymens are the same.

Various causes of torn hymen

There are still many people who associate the tearing of the hymen with a woman's virginity. However, this assumption is actually not correct. The hymen can tear due to various activities carried out by women, not only through intimate relations.

Some activities that can cause the hymen to tear include:

1. Sexual Intercourse

The most common cause of hymen tearing is sexual intercourse. When the penis enters the vagina, the hymen can tear and bleed a little. However, not all women experience bleeding the first time they have sexual intercourse. This is caused by differences in the shape and elasticity of each woman's hymen.

2. Heavy physical activity

Strenuous physical activity, such as horse riding, cycling, or high-intensity exercise, can also cause the hymen to tear. This physical activity can cause pressure on the vagina.

3. Accident

If you have had an accident, such as a fall or impact on the vaginal area, the hymen can tear because its lining is thin.

4. Congenital from birth

Please note that some women are born with a thin hymen or even no hymen at all. So, the tear may be caused by tissue that is too thin or absent at all.

Thus, it is important to understand that tearing of the hymen is not always related to virginity.

Watch more in this video “How Much Bleeding Is Due to Cloths?”

Can a Torn Hymen Return to Normal?

The hymen does not have the ability to grow back like skin can recover after an open wound. Once torn, the hymen cannot return to its original state. This tissue is formed only during the growth period. After reaching adulthood, the hymen cannot re-form.

However, there is a medical procedure known as hymenoplasty that can restore a torn hymen or even create a hymen where none previously existed. This operation is not related to virginity, but generally women can experience vaginal bleeding the first time they have sexual intercourse after undergoing this procedure. In general, a torn hymen does not need to be repaired because it does not affect health.

Usually, this surgical procedure is performed for religious or cultural reasons related to the concept of virginity in marriage. In addition, hymenoplasty can provide emotional and psychological support for victims of sexual violence.

That's an explanation of the hymen and how to find out whether it has been torn or not. Basically, a woman's virginity cannot be judged by the condition of her hymen which is still intact.