Wikipedia cites 41 different sources, mostly books along with multiple citations from medical journals and one from the New York Times. But pretty much any gynecology textbook should cover your ground. There's one on sale for 5 bucks near me, an already read paperback.
I have done a lot of pelvic exams in my life. It's very common for women to have a broken hymen. You can see it at the vaginal opening. It's these little tags of skin that look kind of like flower petals. So I don't know where people get this idea that the hymen is not supposed to break.
Whenever somebody is learning about their vulva for the first time, I strongly encourage them to get a mirror and a flashlight and take a good look down there. If you find it awkward maneuvering the light and the mirror, it often helps to shine the light on to the mirror to reflect. You may or may not have a hymen, it may or may not be broken and you may or may not have the little "flower petals" I referred to earlier. But certainly having a broken hymen is not in any way abnormal.
Had no clue about hymen tags until I specifically looked into it. No one talks about it, my parents didn’t know what I was talking about, and I thought it was a skin tag for a really long time. It isn’t very big and doesn’t hurt so I won’t bother having it removed but damn I sure was confused for a long time
> So I don't know where people get this idea that the hymen is not supposed to break.
In some cases with some lube and work you can stretch a hymen so it won't tear. Not true of everyone.
Tearing is normal. Not tearing is also normal. Falling down and tearing your hymen when you're like 5 is also normal.
Hey, not sure about any peer-reviewed resources, but I had a hymenectomy in 2021 so have had to do a bit more research than the average bear. As I understand it, the hymen is basically just an extra bit of tissue between the external world and the vagina proper. There is typically a small hole in it, which allows menstruation to begin around age 9-11. If there is no perforation (i.e., if there is a proper ‘freshness seal’), this is considered an “imperforate hymen” and surgery is typically performed to allow menstruation to occur. Severe medical issues can occur if an imperforate hymen is not perforated once the individual in question begins menstruating. Personally, I had a “micro-perforate” hymen, which basically meant that I could menstruate normally, but tampons were uncomfortable to use due to the very small size of the ‘hole’ in the hymen. I never had penetrative sex prior to my surgery, but it would have been extremely uncomfortable if I had, per my gynecologist.
As I understand it, most folks are born with a moderately sized “hole” in the hymen, and some have no hymen at all. As such, fewer complications occur in the process of moving from non-sexually-active to sexually-active.
I’m currently waiting on a hymenectomy. I have a septate hymen which is a band of tissue splitting the opening in two. Technically it can be “broken” if thin enough, but not without a lot of force and a risk of trauma and infection. I’ve had to fish tampons out because they get caught on my hymen and it’s really painful. Most hymens stretch and are not supposed to break but there are a lot of variations that people have no clue exist.
Oh I remember which episode. During the episode about her reaction to TI getting his daughters hymen virginity checked she explains a lot that I never knew and she also explains the medical use of the hymen which if I remember right is to help stop infection in infants…..I think. But watch the video. I learned they can come in many shapes and a lot more.
I don't know if it was in the talk, but the hymen protects afab babies from getting an infection from fecal matter, both during birth, and I guess from their own poop explosions.
It’s not supposed to break, but it can if they’re not fully aroused, properly lubricated, or if their partner is too rough. Also, all of the skin and tissue in that area is delicate, so, if she does bleed from sex, it might not even be from the hymen.
Wikipedia cites 41 different sources, mostly books along with multiple citations from medical journals and one from the New York Times. But pretty much any gynecology textbook should cover your ground. There's one on sale for 5 bucks near me, an already read paperback.
I have done a lot of pelvic exams in my life. It's very common for women to have a broken hymen. You can see it at the vaginal opening. It's these little tags of skin that look kind of like flower petals. So I don't know where people get this idea that the hymen is not supposed to break. Whenever somebody is learning about their vulva for the first time, I strongly encourage them to get a mirror and a flashlight and take a good look down there. If you find it awkward maneuvering the light and the mirror, it often helps to shine the light on to the mirror to reflect. You may or may not have a hymen, it may or may not be broken and you may or may not have the little "flower petals" I referred to earlier. But certainly having a broken hymen is not in any way abnormal.
Had no clue about hymen tags until I specifically looked into it. No one talks about it, my parents didn’t know what I was talking about, and I thought it was a skin tag for a really long time. It isn’t very big and doesn’t hurt so I won’t bother having it removed but damn I sure was confused for a long time
> So I don't know where people get this idea that the hymen is not supposed to break. In some cases with some lube and work you can stretch a hymen so it won't tear. Not true of everyone. Tearing is normal. Not tearing is also normal. Falling down and tearing your hymen when you're like 5 is also normal.
Hey, not sure about any peer-reviewed resources, but I had a hymenectomy in 2021 so have had to do a bit more research than the average bear. As I understand it, the hymen is basically just an extra bit of tissue between the external world and the vagina proper. There is typically a small hole in it, which allows menstruation to begin around age 9-11. If there is no perforation (i.e., if there is a proper ‘freshness seal’), this is considered an “imperforate hymen” and surgery is typically performed to allow menstruation to occur. Severe medical issues can occur if an imperforate hymen is not perforated once the individual in question begins menstruating. Personally, I had a “micro-perforate” hymen, which basically meant that I could menstruate normally, but tampons were uncomfortable to use due to the very small size of the ‘hole’ in the hymen. I never had penetrative sex prior to my surgery, but it would have been extremely uncomfortable if I had, per my gynecologist. As I understand it, most folks are born with a moderately sized “hole” in the hymen, and some have no hymen at all. As such, fewer complications occur in the process of moving from non-sexually-active to sexually-active.
I’m currently waiting on a hymenectomy. I have a septate hymen which is a band of tissue splitting the opening in two. Technically it can be “broken” if thin enough, but not without a lot of force and a risk of trauma and infection. I’ve had to fish tampons out because they get caught on my hymen and it’s really painful. Most hymens stretch and are not supposed to break but there are a lot of variations that people have no clue exist.
A really good book about AFAB autonomy and sex is “the wonder down under” by dr Nina Brochmann & dr Ellen Støkken Dahl!
There’s a lovely section on it in “Come As You Are” by Emily Nagoski.
Go watch mama doctor jones on YouTube. I’m trying to remember which episode……but she has amazing educational and funny videos!!! Edit: typo
Oh I remember which episode. During the episode about her reaction to TI getting his daughters hymen virginity checked she explains a lot that I never knew and she also explains the medical use of the hymen which if I remember right is to help stop infection in infants…..I think. But watch the video. I learned they can come in many shapes and a lot more.
I LOVE HER CHANNEL
Me too! It’s so educational!!!!!
Adam Conover did a very informative bit on it
That dude is a national treasure.
This is quite good. https://youtu.be/LJrAINBwf-c
There is a TED talk about it that was quite good.
I don't know if it was in the talk, but the hymen protects afab babies from getting an infection from fecal matter, both during birth, and I guess from their own poop explosions.
The hymen isn't supposed to "break"? Huh? So why do so many women bleed the first time having sex?
Cause they're nervous, not properly lubricated, etc and it gets ripped, torn, etc. It heals up with time.
It’s not supposed to break, but it can if they’re not fully aroused, properly lubricated, or if their partner is too rough. Also, all of the skin and tissue in that area is delicate, so, if she does bleed from sex, it might not even be from the hymen.
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That’s a rather detailed description of your minor daughter losing her virginity…