What kind of hymen do you have

Well, it depends on how you define virginity, and what you know about hymens. Contrary to popular belief, the hymen is not a flat piece of tissue covering the vagina, which is punctured during intercourse.

If it were, girls would not be able to menstruate before they lose their virginity because there would be no outlet for menstrual blood. Usually, the hymen looks like a fringe of tissue around the vaginal opening. It is not an intact piece of tissue draped across it.

Some girls are born without a hymen, others have only a scanty fringe of tissue. Moreover, for all its fabled mystery, the hymen is just a body part. Like eyes, noses and breasts, everyone is a little different. Girls often disrupt the hymen during play. There is often some bleeding. Nonetheless, the hymen is prized and parents and teens sometimes worry that the prize has been lost.

Often, mothers bring their daughters to see me because they, or the father, want to know if the girl is a virgin. Of course, in New York and many states teens have a right to confidential care so I cannot tell the mother anything unless the teen gives me permission to do so. It is not so easy to tell whether a girl is a virgin, because hymens are so varied.

If there is not much of a hymen I have no way of knowing what happened to it. Was it a boyfriend or a bicycle? These include: vaginal agenesis, imperforate hymen, septate hymen, transverse vaginal septum and transverse vaginal septum. Skip to Content. Urgent Care. In This Section. Conditions We Treat Hymen Variants.

Hymen Variants. What Are Hymen Variants? Imperforate Hymen A condition in which the hymen fails to open up and therefore completely covers the opening to the vagina, blocking menstrual blood and secretions from flowing out. Microperforate Hymen A condition in which the hymen has a very small opening. Cribiform Hymen A condition in which the hymen has several very small openings.

Septate Hymen A septate hymen occurs when the hymen has a band of extra tissue in the middle that causes two small vaginal openings instead of one. In medical communities, the hymen is recognized as a vestige of vaginal development that lacks clinical purpose outside of the womb. But it will stretch or thin over time. Think about it: If there was a piece of tissue covering the opening of your vagina, how would you be able to menstruate?

This is a rare medical condition that surgery can treat. The hymen has usually thinned by the time you first experience vaginal penetration — whether with tampons or something else — so sexual activity will have little to no effect. There are a number of things that can cause your hymen to tear or wear down. Certain physical activities and sports, for example, can stretch the membrane and cause it to thin.

There are a number of reasons why sex might hurt the first time. For example:. But there are a number of ways to reduce pain around sexual activity — and it is possible to have sex for the first time without feeling pain. Talking to your partner about sex can reduce your anxiety.

During foreplay, your body realizes it will be having sex, so it starts producing its own vaginal lubricant. How long should you spend on foreplay? Foreplay itself can be a fun experience, for both you and your partner. So, take your time and figure out what you like. Ten minutes is a good goal to aim for, but you might simply wait until your vagina is wet enough for penetration. Whether you get wet easily or not, lube is always a good idea.

The lubrication makes penetration easier and less painful. Do some research before buying a lube that works for you. If one sex position feels uncomfortable for you, change it up! When it comes to penis-in-vagina sex, missionary position is often comfortable.