Hymen & virginity

Q. What is Hymen?
A. The hymen is a thin, fleshy membrane that in some girls and young women is found at the opening to the vagina. It has a central perforation, which can be round or elongated, through which menstrual blood will flow. It is also called "maidenhead".

Q. Is hymen an evidence of virginity?
A. For a long time, it was believed that an intact hymen was evidence of a girl's virginity, as the hymen posed a barrier to sexual intercourse.

Some girls who are still virgins have no hymen at all.
Also there have been some cases in which girls who have had several sexual intercources had an intact Hymen. This condition is also called as elastic hymen. A minor surgical procedure should remove the hymen is such cases as elastic hymens sometimes do cause pain during sexual intercourse.

Girls who do have a hymen can break their hymen in a number of differerent ways, many times without even knowing it.

Some of the non-sexual ways in which a hymen will tear are:

1. Through an accident or injury.
2. Horseback riding, bicycling, high jumping, gymnastics or similar sports.
3. Insertion of finger or instrument by doctor during pelvic exam.
4. Tampon insertion.
etc..

While the presence of a hymen indicates virginity, the absence of one is definately not a proof a girl is not a virgin.

Since an intact hymen can be stretched and split by an erect penis during sexual intercourse, a woman may feel momentary discomfort and may bleed. Should either persist, a doctor should be consulted. On the other hand, there may be no blood or pain involved at all when the hymen is torn.

Q. Did you know Who was Hymen?
A. According to sources, the hymen is named after the Greek god Hymenaeus. Son of Bacchus and Venus, Hymenaeus earned his reputation as the god of marriage and weddings.

Q. Do you know the alternate word for the breaking of hymen?
A. They call it 'Defloration'.