Busting Misconceptions About The Hymen

When it comes to education regarding our sexual body parts, one shouldn’t feel daunted to openly communicate about it. Everyone has so many questions going on in their mind which sadly they cannot ask someone in their primary environment. There are so many common misconceptions and myths which rest on the hymen and we need to clear it. Scroll down to read more about the hymen:

What Is A Hymen?

The hymen is a thin piece of tissue which covers the external vagina opening. It ranges from thin to thick to stretchy. Biologically, it has no function. During the first penetrative intercourse, the hymen can tear which results in side effects such as pain and bleeding. Historically and culturally seen the state of the hymen is seen to measure a woman’s virginity. Studies claim that the hymen fully covers your vagina till it stretches open, but that is not true. 

Hymens have naturally a big hole which makes it easy for the period blood to come out. In some cases women have a small hymen which does not look like a hymen at all. People believe a hymen can solely be stretched open when having sexual intercourse. That is certainly not always the case. The hymen can stretch open while doing sports such as riding a bike or doing yoga – there are various factors that can affect it. Once the hymen is stretched open, it cannot grow back.

The Hymen Is Not A Sign Of Virginity – 3 Myths Which Need To Be Busted

The hymen fully covers the vaginal opening

We tend to assume that the hymen is a thick layer which wraps the vagina and which opens once sexual penetration takes place – this is a misconception which is not true. Once a girl reaches her puberty years, it is said that the hymen automatically transfers into a tissue which covers the opening of the vagina. If you wouldn’t have one, you wouldn’t be able to have periods. There are certain cases of people who are born with an imperforate hymen which requires a minor surgery. Everyone’s hymen is different and there are even people who are born without a hymen.

By the presence/absence of the hymen you can tell whether someone is virgin or not 

Studies show that having a hymen and being virgin are completely the opposite. You cannot conclude whether some has had sex or not by the way their hymen looks. Either some people are born with hymens which have a big opening, or the hymen stretches out while doing activities other than sexual intercourse. It is also proven that hymens can stretch when your body is undergoing hormonal changes or when you’re aging. The WHO has highlighted the issue too and concluded that it is a violation to human rights to assume that a woman is not virgin because she does not have a hymen.

Pain and bleeding during your first penetrative intercourse is because of breakage of the hymen

This is a misconception which is not true. During first time sexual intercourse, women are likely to bleed but that has nothing to do with the hymen, rather the bleeding occurs because of nerves which lead to vaginal lubrication. The hymen has a very thin tissue which is not capable of supplying any blood.

Why Do We Need To Get Rid Of These Misconceptions? 

It is extremely important to start a discourse about these issues and make people aware of them. Not only do these myths make women and their bodies feel ashamed, but it also glorifies the patriarchal system. These myths have caused unwanted fear and anxiety. As women we should stand up for ourselves and not let any kind of false myths take over our lives and let them decide our worth.