Hymen is a mucous membrane located at the vaginal opening. It can be broken due to many reasons, like first sexual intercourse, use of tampons or use of speculum for vaginal examination. It has also been noted that the hymen can be broken if females engage in rough sports, horse riding or other similar activities. The hymen, being attached to the labia minora comes in various size and shapes. Among them, the most common are imperforate, microperforate and septate.
Absence of hymen – Why?
- Congenital absence of hymen
- Sexual intercourse (vagina l penetration)
- Non- sexual activities like sports, insertion of tampons, horseback riding, etc., which puts tension on the hymeneal tissues.
You can easily determine if your hymen is broken or not by a very simple method, for which you need not go to a gynecologist. Follow the simple steps mentioned below to know if the hymen is broken or not:
- A drop of blood on the inner wear, but not a profuse bleeding.
- If you had sexual intercourse, then, there is a possibility that the hymen may rupture; however; the woman may or may not bleed if the hymen breaks.
- In case of masturbating with larger objects or more than one finger, the hymen may get ruptured. This also may or may not cause bleeding
- If you are a person involved in sports activities, cycling, horseback riding, etc., there is a possibility that the hymen may break.
- If you use tampons regularly, this can also break the hymen.
- Take a mirror, sit on a chair and spread your legs. Place the mirror in front of your vagina for proper view. You will have to change your position or the angle of the mirror for a proper view. Once you are set, and is able to see the vaginal opening, use your index and middle finger to spread the labia. This will open up the cervical opening for having a complete inside view.
- Inside the opening, you will get to see your hymen. Try to identify it without poking your finger into the opening; however, after spreading the labia the hymen should be clearly visible. Usually, hymen is moon shaped, thin tissue on the lower part of the cervical opening towards the anus. The size of the hymen may differ from person to person.
- If, you are still not able to see the hymen then gently insert you middle finger into the opening to feel it. If the insertion of finger up to the second knuckle of your finger does not cause any pain, and you are able to move it inside easily that means the hymen is broken. Before trying this step, make sure you lubricate you fingers. Wash your hands after checking.
- Two finger test or virginity test: this is performed by doctors to detect a ruptured hymen.
Steps undertaken following a hymen breakage
- Do not bother; leave it, as it is. This is mainly done because hymen breakage is not a disease; it is extremely normal and commonly seen.
- Those who do not want to leave it as it is, can repair or reconstruct it with procedures like simple repair and hymenorraphy or hymenoplasty.
- Women can also try out artificial hymens, which adheres to the inside of the vagina giving it a temporary appearance of an intact hymen.
When to seek medical attention?
- Excessive bleeding for a prolonged period of time (hymen rupture do not cause profuse bleeding). This may be an indication of a vaginal tear or cervical cancer. post coital bleeding can occur in conditions like cervical dysplasia, gonorrhea, cervical polyps, vaginal yeast infection, uterine polyps, chlamydia, vaginitis, trichomoniasis, endrometritis and fibroid tumors.
- In such situations, you must consult your gynecologist for better inspection and treatment for the same.
See this for further detailed information on -> Hymen – Location, Pictures, Surgery, Repair and Broken Hymen
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by on 21. May, 2010 in Sexual Health
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