MrNice

The hymen is a membrane which partially blocks the entrance to a woman's vagina until she has had sexual intercourse. The hymen is usually torn the first time a penis enters the vagina.

In many young women the hymen is torn or stretched through some sort of physical activity or the insertion of a tampon long before the woman has sexual intercourse. Many people associate the presence of the hymen with virginity. The assumption being that if the hymen is intact the woman is a virgin but if it is absent or torn she is not a virgin. This is a misconception. A woman can no longer have a hymen due to exercise, etc and still be a virgin assuming she has not had a penis in her vagina.

The hymen is usually fairly thin and tears without a great deal of pain or bleeding during the first sex act. Some women, however, do experience some discomfort during the initial act which usually lessens or disappears in subsequent acts of intercourse.