hymen

and Maria Franz, M.Sc. Biochemistry and medical student

Eva Rudolf-Müller is a freelance writer in the medical team. She studied human medicine and newspaper sciences and has repeatedly worked in both areas - as a doctor in the clinic, as a reviewer, and as a medical journalist for various specialist journals. She is currently working in online journalism, where a wide range of medicine is offered to everyone.

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Maria Franz has been a freelance writer in the editorial team since 2020. After completing a master's degree in biochemistry, she is currently studying human medicine in Munich. With her work at she would like to arouse her own great interest in medical topics among the readers as well.

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The hymen is a thin fold of the mucous membrane in a woman's vagina. It can tear and bleed easily during the first sexual act. But that doesn't have to happen. Read everything you need to know about: Where is the hymen? How does it look like? What health problems can the hymen cause? Which claims are true and which are not?

What is the hymen?

The hymen (hymen, vaginal corona) is a thin, elastic fold of the mucous membrane that partially closes the vaginal opening. It represents the border between the inner and outer genitals of the woman. The menstrual blood can normally flow away unhindered through a remaining opening between the hymen and the wall of the vaginal entrance.

Where does the name hymen come from?

The name hymen is based on an assumption that has since turned out to be wrong: It was previously thought that the skin always tears during the first sex and then bleeds. Girls and women with intact hymen were therefore still untouched, that is, virgins.

What does the hymen look like?

The shape of the hymen is very diverse and differs from woman to woman. In many girls and women it is ring-shaped and surrounds the vaginal opening like a wreath (Latin: corona). But it can also be crescent-shaped or sieve-shaped. Sometimes it consists of bands of tissue that lie over the opening of the vagina. The hymen is seldom completely absent. In exceptional cases, however, the vaginal opening is completely closed by the hymen. Doctors then speak of a hymeneal atresia.

Where exactly is the hymen located?

The hymen is in the vagina, behind the labia minora. To be more precise, it is about two to three centimeters behind the vaginal entrance, in corpulent women it is about two centimeters lower. The vaginal entrance is shaped into a groove between the hymen and a small ligament that runs from the clitoris to the labia minora. This is where the glandular secretion that is produced during sexual arousal collects.

Can the hymen tear?

Basically, the hymen can be injured. The causes are not always clear. But it is wrong that it always breaks in the course of a woman's life. Nevertheless, such assumptions persist.

Does the hymen tear during first sex?

The hymen can be injured during sexual intercourse. But that doesn't have to happen: it is very elastic and usually doesn't close the vaginal opening completely. Rather, it can expand and contract again and thus adapt to the circumstances.

Nevertheless, the hymen still has a special meaning in some cultures and religions today: Only through the alleged tearing of the hymn on the wedding night and the small bleeding that can result, there is evidence that the woman was still unaffected, i.e. did not have sexual intercourse before marriage. However, this is a misconception.

Does it always bleed?

When the hymen breaks, some women bleed. But this is not a rule either: even if the hymen is injured, it does not have to bleed profusely. The bleeding can also occur if the vaginal lining is injured elsewhere. About half of all women do not bleed during their first sex. By the way: pain does not have to occur either.

When does the hymen tear?

The hymen can be injured in various situations. One example is sexual intercourse. Sex toys, for example for masturbation, can also tear the skin. You often hear that it can tear from tampons or when doing sports, such as riding or doing gymnastics. Since the hymen is very elastic, it can normally adapt to body movements.

The hymen can also tear during a natural birth. The extent to which the hymen is injured also depends on its shape (large-area membranes are more susceptible than small marginal ones). How elastic the fold of the mucous membrane actually is also plays a role.

An intact hymen does not prove virginity. Conversely, a torn hymen can also be present in virgins. Bleeding does not have to occur either. Or the bleeding is from another injury to the vaginal lining.

What is the function of the hymen?

It is not clear whether the hymen has a biological purpose. Some scientists suggest that it is supposed to protect the vagina from infection. It therefore serves as a mechanical barrier against pathogens. However, there is no clear evidence of this.

Can the hymen be restored?

Women are under pressure in certain cultural and religious circles if the worldview is to marry them as virgins. Some single women who have already had sex therefore have their hymen checked before they get married. If not, those affected often decide to have an operation in such cases: Surgical reconstruction "renews" the hymen. This intervention can usually not be recognized afterwards. Artificial hymen can also be used.

Let experts or a doctor you trust give you detailed advice on restoring a hymen!

What problems can the hymen cause?

If the hymen completely closes the vaginal entrance, doctors speak of a hymen imperforatus or hymenal atresia. About one in 2000 girls is affected by this genital malformation.

Such cases are usually noticeable when the menstrual period starts: the menstrual blood cannot drain away, but collects in the vagina. With large amounts of blood, it backs up into the uterus or even into the fallopian tubes. The affected girls and women experience increasing pain with each passing month, possibly accompanied by disorders of the urination of the bladder and bowel. This problem can easily be remedied by a microsurgical procedure under local anesthesia (hymenal splitting).

For some girls, there is hardly any opening next to the hymen. This can cause problems when using tampons. The maiden skin can also be a skin bridge that consists of several ligaments. These skin ligaments are more stable than the normal tissue of the hymen, which can lead to painful intercourse. Even then, surgical transection of the hymen may be necessary. Benign and malignant growths can also develop in the hymen area.

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