Sexual Health
Do all vaginas have hymens? Several knowledge points about the vagina and hymen must be understood
Does the vagina have a hymen? The hymen is a persistent legacy of the immature state, and its bodily function is the physiological tissue of the immature female. Do all vaginas have hymens? Below, the editor will answer for you.
In order to give you a more comprehensive understanding of this special and important organ, here are 25 essential knowledge to master. Tell us where the areas that can trigger excitement are, and why regular sexual behavior is the best way to ensure health. Come and learn!
1. 'She' is already formed four months before birth
The reproductive organs of the embryonic age will gradually mature and eventually give the baby its own gender. At approximately 10 weeks of embryo development, if DNA determines that this is a male baby, then the "penis" and testicles will gradually form. If it is a female baby, then the reproductive organs will grow into.
2. Not all have hymens
If you don't bleed during the first night, it may be because you accidentally broke the hymen - a thin membrane that usually adheres to the opening - exercising and placing a tampon can cause damage to it - and some people are even born without a hymen. On the contrary, some people have a thick hymen and have to undergo surgery to remove it - which makes it possible to have sex or place tampons.
3. 'She' is only a part of the reproductive organs
Many consider it as the entire reproductive organ, which is incorrect. Although the clitoris, vulva, and urethra are only one inch away from each other, they are still independent components of the reproductive organs. So, how should we define it? It is a moist muscular duct that starts in the internal position and extends approximately three inches towards the pelvis until it reaches the cervix (the opening of the uterus). It will bring us orgasm, which is the place where "good friends" flow every month, and also the outlet for our babies to leave their mothers in the future.
Reminder: Correct method for self-examination of the external genitalia
Look, observe the secretion.
Smell "refers to the smell of secretions, menstrual blood, or external emissions.
The normal feeling of "touch" should be smooth and soft.
The growth stage of the hymen
The hymen appears, develops, and forms in the fetus at 3-4 months old. By adolescence, the shape and thickness of the hymen vary. Generally, the hymen in adolescents is smaller and thicker. As the woman's body matures, the hymen gradually becomes larger and thinner, and has considerable resilience. The hymen of an adult woman is approximately 1-2 millimeters thick.
● Adolescence
The hymen is covered near the outer opening of the vagina, approximately 1-2 millimeters thick, with a small hole in the middle called the "hymen hole", with a diameter of approximately 1 centimeter and usually circular, elliptical, or serrated in shape; Some are semi lunar in shape, with membrane pores leaning to one side; Some are partition shaped holes, with two small holes arranged in parallel up and down or left and right; Some have many scattered small holes, like sieves.
During menstruation, menstrual blood is expelled from the body through this small hole. If there are no small pores on the membrane, monthly menstrual blood is blocked and accumulates in the vagina, expanding upwards into the uterine cavity and fallopian tubes, and even flowing into the abdominal cavity, causing damage to the fallopian tubes, intestinal adhesions, and abdominal infections, known as "hymen atresia" in medicine, and gynecological manual surgery must be performed.
Before puberty, due to the low secretion of estrogen by the ovaries, thin vaginal mucosa, less wrinkled walls, low acidity, and weak resistance, the hymen has the function of blocking bacterial invasion of the vagina. After puberty, as the ovaries develop, the estrogen in the body increases, the vaginal resistance strengthens, and the hymen also loses its function.
● Adulthood
During first sexual intercourse, the hymen is ruptured and forms a tear, causing bleeding.
Due to the varying shapes of the hymen, the degree of rupture can vary greatly. When the septum shaped hymen with two holes ruptures, there is more bleeding and severe pain. The lip shaped hymen has less bleeding and almost no pain. The thick and elastic umbrella shaped hymen may not rupture at all.
According to a survey by American gynecologists, approximately 30% of women have no or very little bleeding during their first sexual intercourse. Among these 30%, there is a highly elastic umbrella shaped hymen, which may rupture after multiple sexual intercourse or after a crazy sexual journey, but may not necessarily bleed. It also includes the porous sieve shaped hymen, which is prone to rupture, which may have ruptured for various reasons before the first sexual intercourse.
After giving birth
Due to vaginal delivery of the fetus, the hymen is further damaged. Sometimes only a few remaining protrusions are left, called hymen scars. Cesarean section delivery does not experience such changes. [5]
During adolescence
Before puberty, women's reproductive organs are not yet fully developed, and the vaginal mucosa is relatively weak and low in acidity, which cannot prevent bacterial invasion. At this point, the hymen is thicker, which shoulders this important responsibility and plays a role in protecting the female reproductive system. After puberty, women's reproductive organs gradually develop and improve, and the vagina has a function of resisting bacterial invasion, while the hymen gradually becomes weak, thus losing this function. So, for mature women, the hymen no longer has any physiological function.