Hallow Dear,

The hymen is situated just inside the vaginal opening. In most of the cases, the hymen is a very delicate fibro-muscular membrane having a small opening in it for the passage of menstrual blood.

Hymen is so delicate that it gets ruptured by the entry of the penis during first intercourse. However, sitting astride like bicycling, two wheelers riding, horse riding, exercises like tree climbing, athletics etc. also may rupture the hymen. So in this era, most of the girls have their hymen ruptured before the first intercourse.

If the hymen is not ruptured even after the insertional intercourse, there possibilities are:
1. The penis might have just touched the hymen and not entered inside the vagina. This can happen if the hymen is too tough also. Even after such intercourses also, pregnancy is known. Most of the cases, the full penile entry is not achieved for many months.
2. The hymen may be imperforate hymen. However, in such situation, the girl will not get menses.
3. Most likely possibility is that you could not inspect your hymen properly. Hymen does not look like a skin, it looks pinkish, like a muscular membrane with an opening in it. After rupture, the edges of hymen are withdrawn to the vaginal outlet walls.

I hope you have got a detailed information.

Hallow Dear,

The hymen is situated not exactly at the outside of the opening of vagina. It is little inside the vaginal opening. Hence when you inspect the hymen, you have to separate both the labia majora wide apart.

Even before defloration, the hymen does have a small opening in the centre through which the menstrual discharge flows out. However hymen is a very thin and delicate fibromuscular membrane which does get torn during the first entry of the penis into the vagina. Then there is some amount of bleeding taking place.

In this era, the girls are doing many activities. Some activities like bicycle riding, climbing on trees, horse riding, sitting astride, vaginal masturbation, etc. also ruptures the hymen. Hence, in this era, intact hymen is not the parameter of virginity.

What you are seeing as skin everywhere is probably outside the labia. Proper inspection will reveal the tear in the hymen. Hymen does not look like a skin. It looks pinkish - somewhat like inner part of the lips. Even if the penis has not entered inside the vagina leaving the hymen unruptured, still you will find a small opening in the center of the hymen; otherwise you would not have got your menstrual discharge out of your vagina.

So if at all you want to inspect your hymen, do it in the mirror in front of the vaginal opening, separate the labia majora wide apart and then observe.

I am sure, this clarifies your confusion.

Dr. Nishikant Shrotri