What is a hymen? Anatomy and function

This article is also available in Spanish.

Where is my hymen located?

The hymen is located on either side of the vagina, or it may surround it completely. You can check what your hymen looks like easily at home by looking at your vulva with a handheld mirror. Your hymen is likely to look one of two ways:

• Annular: Your hymen surrounds the vagina completely

• Crescentic: Your hymen is only visible on either side of the vagina

Don’t worry if you can’t see your hymen at all — it’s natural for it to wear down over time. Most people won’t be able to easily see their hymen after puberty, regardless of whether or not they’ve had sex, and some people are born with such a small hymen that it’s very hard to see in the first place.

Types of hymen

Most people won’t experience any problems with their hymen. However, there are some conditions to be aware of. Hymens are categorized in five different ways:

• Annular or crescent-shaped hymen: This is the most common type of hymen, the skin is shaped like a donut or a crescent shape around the vaginal opening.
• Cribriform hymen: The hymen covers the vagina but contains many small holes, period blood can pass through these, but it may make it difficult to insert a tampon.
• Imperforate hymen: A condition where the hymen completely covers the vagina, stopping blood from exiting. This can be painful but rare, only affecting 1 in 1,000 girls.
• Microperforate hymen: The hymen covers the entire vaginal opening except for a tiny hole. Period blood can flow out of that small hole, but it may be tricky to use tampons.
• Septate hymen: The hymen has an extra piece of skin, which can make it look like two hymens. People with this condition may find it difficult to use tampons.

What’s the hymen’s purpose?

The exact purpose of the hymen isn’t known, it’s thought it may protect the vagina from infection, but most people won’t even notice the absence of a hymen when it's gone. There is very little research into this area, but the evidence available suggests the hymen doesn’t serve any important function. 

What happens when a hymen breaks?

The hymen is unlikely to break all at once – it’s more likely to wear down over time. Everyone is different, and some people may notice a small amount of bleeding or pain as their hymen breaks, but most people won’t notice any hymen breakage signs at all. 

Does having sex for the first time break your hymen?

Most people’s hymen will have already torn by the time they have sex for the first time. Any kind of vaginal penetration may contribute to the hymen tearing or stretching, including masturbation, inserting a tampon, or penetrative vaginal intercourse. 

In many cultures, there is an expectation that women should bleed after the first time they’ve had sex to indicate the hymen has broken. But in most cases, there is no visible change to the body after the first time we have sex, and hymen breakage can occur due to various activities, not only sexual intercourse. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecology released a statement back in 2019 that they do not have guidance on virginity testing. 

What activities can cause the hymen to tear?

Living a regular healthy, and active life can cause the hymen to wear down, stretch, and disappear over time. Activities from horseback riding to gymnastics can contribute to this, but any physical activity can have an impact on our bodies. It’s more important to enjoy a healthy and active life than to worry about what may or may not cause the hymen to tear.

Hymen care

You don't need to do anything to look after your hymen. The vagina is a marvel! Did you know the vagina is self-cleaning? Rinsing the vulva area with warm water and letting the vagina do its thing is often enough to keep this area healthy and clean. In fact, vaginas are sensitive to soaps and lotions, and even specially-tailored washes can cause a pH imbalance in this area.

Most problems related to the hymen, such as an imperforate hymen, become obvious during puberty. If you experience pain or have difficulty inserting tampons or other menstrual cups, it’s a good idea to consult with your healthcare professional. 

Facts about the hymen

Having a hymen or not has nothing to do with virginity

There’s plenty of stigma surrounding this small piece of skin, and even today, many people believe that the presence of a hymen can indicate whether or not you’ve had sex. In most cases, the hymen doesn’t tear during sex. In fact, it wears down over time, and while vaginal penetration can cause this to happen, a missing or torn hymen is not a good indication of whether or not someone has had penetrative sex or not. 

The hymen doesn’t completely cover the vagina

Phrases like ‘popping the cherry’ imply that the hymen is a seal that blocks off the vagina. For most people, the hymen only partially covers the vagina, this is why period blood can still pass through, and it’s possible to still use tampons and have penetrative sex with the hymen still present. 

The hymen doesn’t break, it tears

While we’re dispelling the myth of ‘popping,’ let’s also talk about breaking. The hymen isn’t some magical barrier, nor is it hard and brittle. It’s just a piece of skin that wears down over time. When you’re younger, you’re more likely to have more of your hymen in place, but even as a sexually active adult, you may still be able to see your hymen around the vaginal opening. 

Everyone’s hymen looks a bit different 

Vulvas are like snowflakes, and when it comes to the hymen, it’s no different. Your hymen might be bigger, smaller, or a different shape to someone else’s — and that’s OK. One of the great things about our bodies is that they are unique. However, if you ever have any questions or are worried that something isn’t quite right down there, make sure to talk to your healthcare practitioner.

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