In daily life, people mostly hear about the hymen, but few know what its actual physiological structure is. This leads to many misunderstandings about the hymen. In fact, the hymen is not mysterious, and its structure is quite simple. Let me guide you through a new understanding of the hymen.
1. Location, physiological structure, and appearance of the hymen
The hymen, or hymen in English, is a fold of mucous membrane with a central opening that covers the vaginal opening, at the junction of the vagina and the vaginal vestibule. From an evolutionary perspective, the hymen is actually a sign of physiological degeneration in humans. Due to insufficient physical strength, it developed as a self-protective mechanism to reduce the invasion of pathogens. The vagina is located in a depression at the lower part of the labia majora (about 2-3 cm deep), hence the common misconception that the hymen is inside the vagina. The hymen is pink or translucent on both sides, the same color as the surrounding mucous membranes, and its surface is moist. In young girls, the hymen is smaller and thicker, gradually becoming larger and thinner with maturation, and possessing a certain degree of elasticity. In adult women, the hymen is approximately 1-2 millimeters thick, containing connective tissue, capillaries, and nerve endings.
2. The function of the hymen
At this stage, a woman's reproductive organs are not yet fully developed, and the vaginal mucosa is thinner and less acidic, making it unable to prevent bacterial invasion. The hymen, being thicker at this time, then takes on this crucial role, protecting the female reproductive system.
After puberty, as the ovaries develop and estrogen levels increase, the vagina's resistance strengthens, but the hymen gradually thins and loses its function. Therefore, for mature women, the hymen no longer has any physiological function.
3. Regarding the "blood" on the hymen
The hymen covers the vagina near the external opening, is about 1-2 millimeters thick, and has a small opening in the center called the "hymenal orifice," about 1 centimeter in diameter. It is usually round, oval, or serrated; some are crescent-shaped with the orifice off-center; some have a septate opening with two small openings side-by-side; and some have many scattered small openings, like a sieve. During menstruation, menstrual blood flows out through this orifice. During first sexual intercourse, the hymen is broken, creating a tear and causing bleeding.
However, due to the variety of hymen shapes, the degree of rupture can vary greatly. A septate hymen with two openings ruptures with more bleeding and more intense pain. A labial hymen ruptures with less bleeding and almost no pain. A thick, highly elastic umbrella-shaped hymen may not rupture at all, and therefore will not bleed.
According to a survey by American gynecologists, approximately 30% of women do not bleed during their first sexual intercourse. This 30% includes women with a more elastic, umbrella-shaped hymen, which may rupture after multiple sexual encounters or a particularly vigorous sexual experience, but without bleeding. It also includes women with a more fragile, porous, cribriform hymen, which may have already ruptured before first intercourse due to various reasons, such as exercise, cycling, masturbation, or vaginal medication. Therefore, one should never determine a woman's virginity solely based on whether or not she bleeds.
4. The hymen's role in sexual intercourse
The hymen, as a barrier of the external genitalia, is actually an obstacle to sexual intercourse. It prevents the penis from entering the vagina, and physiologically, this barrier can cause varying degrees of pain for the woman. Some women experience prolonged dyspareunia due to hymenal remnants. It should be said that the hymen's role in sexual intercourse is not beneficial to the man, but rather causes pain for the woman; it is detrimental to both partners. During sexual intercourse, it can also pose a threat to the sexual physiology and psychology of both men and women. If the hymen "resists" strongly, making it difficult for the man to "perform," he may ejaculate prematurely due to excessive excitement and tension. If the man develops a psychological burden as a result, it may become a cause of premature ejaculation later in life. Furthermore, if the woman is nervous, and the man is too hasty or rough, the woman may experience pain during her first intercourse, leaving a deep psychological scar. This can lead to frigidity or vaginismus in some women for a considerable period after marriage. Therefore, the presence of the hymen is not unrelated to the occurrence of sexual dysfunction in both men and women. However, as human society has developed to this day, the hymen of most mature women will be destroyed due to sexual intercourse, leaving only deformed fragments.
In conclusion, the hymen is not mysterious at all. Simply put, it is just an ordinary physiological structure in our body. Therefore, we should view all matters related to the hymen correctly.
