Hymen
The hymen is not a membrane. It is a small supple rim of tissue inside the vagina, near the entrance. The hymen is never fully closed. Blood from menstruation leaves the body through the opening of the hymen. It always has a small or larger opening. Even in girls who have never had sexual contact (virgin).
Types of hymens
Every hymen is different in shape and size:
- The skin can be thin or thick.
- The hymen can be smooth, bumpy or wrinkled.
- It can be narrow or quite wide.
Having sex for the first time
When a woman has sexual intercourse for the first time, the hymen can stretch or tear, but this does not always happen. The hymen can already be stretched or torn, even if the woman is still a virgin. The hymen cannot prove whether a woman is a virgin or not.
When the hymen stretches or tears this can hurt a little bit. However, most women do not notice it. Some women lose some drops of blood when the hymen tears. Most women do not lose any blood. Operations to construct or restore the hymen very often do not make any difference. Exercising the pelvic floor muscles can help you to feel tighter during penetration.