Some Myths & Surprising Facts of hymen and virginity

The purpose of the hymenoplasty procedure is to restore the broken hymen which can be broken due to sexual intercourse or by doing vigorous exercise on a regular basis. Sometimes, a person, who is sexually abused or assaulted, goes for this surgery to restore social and sexual life. They can go for it months or years after the hymen broke. It is also performed to build a hymen if it is not present naturally. The surgery will not make a person virgin again, yet it will ensure the hymen tearing and bleeding during first intercourse after the surgery.

Hymen repair surgery is performed under local sedation and it takes less than an hour. Your surgeon must be a hymen repair specialist. Only an expert will be able to give you desired results. While repairing the hymen, he will use dissolvable stitches and will tighten the vaginal entrance by leaving a small opening only. The excess tissues and skin are cut with utmost care. Since there are chances of completely non-existent hymen or there is not enough skin for hymen then in such cases, doctors use a small portion of vaginal skin or he may use any synthetic tissue to create the new hymen which will be similar to the natural one. This process is quite simple and provides safe and sound results.

Owing to the above factors, hymenoplasty is becoming popular in western countries and in Asia as well.  Many people taking it as a surgery that gives chance to relive their sexual life. Nevertheless, it is condemned by many people by saying it is a way to deceive someone with their virginity. 

There are many such myths related to hymen and virginity.  After reading this article, all these myths will become a chapter of the past. 

Myth: - Having a hymen and being virgin is same 

Hymen is a ring-like membrane that covers the opening of the female vagina either slightly or partially. It does not cover the vagina completely. If it would have been the case then the menstrual blood could never come out and have been blocked by hymen. It is believed that the hymen breaks and bleeds when a woman has her first intercourse thus bleeding becomes a symbol of virginity. Many females undergo hymenoplasty as this procedure gives them an intact hymen and ensures bleeding while having sex for the first time after the surgery. This way they try to safeguard the cultural belief of being virgin before marriage and avoid the stigma of being uncultured. 

The fact, however, is something different. Hymen is different in everybody’s body just like any other body part. Some females’ hymen covers the vagina mouth slightly and some are even born without it. Since it is not mandatory that the hymen covers the whole vaginal opening so in such cases, your hymen does not break while intercourse instead it just stretches away and no bleeding happens. Then, how can it be considered as a virginity symbol? This simply means the virginity of any female does not relate to the fact that she has hymen or not.

Myth: - Bleeding during first intercourse ensures the virginity

In some areas, after the wedding night, blood stains are shown to all the elderly people of the house in order to ensure that the woman was a virgin before marriage. This is completely unfair as bleeding can never be the basis of judging virginity. 

Whereas the fact is that bleeding solely depends upon the thickness of hymen. In medical terms, it is called a thin fleshy tissue. With age and over time, many females’ hymens get thinner which is why its tear goes unnoticed and they rarely bleed while intercourse or might just get a spot of blood. There are high chances even that due to some rigorous activity, women have already gone through this tear and blood spot. A woman can have bleeding if her hymen is extremely rigid and does not stretch. Bleeding, therefore, cannot be the criteria of ensuring a woman’s virginity.

Myth: - Examined by gynecologist will have affects on hymen

Many females avoid going to a gynecologist before marriage thinking that if they will examine their vagina by speculum, then it will damage the hymen and their virginity.  A speculum is a tool that spreads the walls of hymen and vagina in order to examine the part and this is called a pap smear test. Contrarily, this is not the case. A visit and examination done by a gynecologist can save you from potential diseases. The speculum will not have any effect on your virginity. Rather examination of external genitals will keep you away from infections and other genital problems.

Myth: - The only motive of hymen is to determine the virginity

People believe that hymen’s sole purpose is to confirm a woman’s virginity. But, this is not true in the same way that your wisdom tooth is not the proof of your rational thinking and witty qualities. The fact is hymen is to protect the vagina from all kinds of bacterial and fungal infections.

Myth: - Using the tampons will affect virginity

To ease the menstruation period, many females use tampons or menstrual cups. The former is soft cylindrical cotton and the latter is a soft cup and these can be inserted into the vagina to absorb the menstrual blood. The fact is that these products may stretch your hymen but it cannot affect your virginity.

Myth: - After looking at hymen, one can affirm your virginity

This is also one of the biggest misconceptions that your partner can say anything about your virginity after looking at your hymen. As a matter of fact, a surgeon who is expert and have years of experience cannot tell anything about your virginity after observing your hymen and vagina. Then how a person who has zero knowledge and experience as compared to a skillful gynecologist can tell anything about the same. 

Myth: - A person will surely get to know when hymen breaks

Your hymen can be broken at any time while doing strenuous activities such as horse riding, cycling or while using tampons or masturbating. Most of the time, it goes unnoticed and there is enough blood to get to know about breakage of hymen. Therefore, it is not a mandate that every female will come to know when it breaks.

Myth: - It is directly related to one’s moral values and character

A woman’s character cannot be good or bad on the basis of the parameter that she has hymen or she is a virgin or not. Yes, there are some conventional social norms that are imposed on people but it is undeniable that every female has her own desires and it is completely her personal decision when she wants to get into it. It’s her private space but society has its rigid thinking which will continue to affect the minds as it is doing.

Conclusion

We must be aware of the facts rather than following the myths that are spread by the people who don’t have any scientific knowledge about the topic. This is a sensitive and untouched topic which needs to change. We need to educate logically about the body urges, sex, and virginity which will consequently enable the people to live in a safe environment.