Hymen or also known as the hymen has historically been regarded as a marker of female virginity. Hymen is taken from the name of god of marriage in ancient Greece. In some regions and cultures virginity is still considered an important value that symbolizes chastity of women. Purity can result in tearing of exclusion until the death of a woman. In a remote tribe in Australia is a culture to tear the hymen of a bride a week before her wedding by an elder woman. If found then the woman's hymen had been torn into gossip material, even the death penalty.

According to medical tearing of the hymen as well because of the trauma / injury due to first sexual intercourse, can also be caused due to masturbation or vaginal tampons to accommodate the installation of menstrual blood, the presence of excessive strain during exercise, gymnastics, falls hit the handle on the bike, on horse races or can be torn without any cause.

Hymen anatomy 150x150 Anatomy and Shape Variation membrane Dara

Hymen anatomy picture

The hymen is a thin layer such as mucous membrane which surrounds or covers the outside of the vagina. The hymen is a part of the external genitalia (vulva). Until now the function of medical hymen is not known exactly when the baby is likely to function protects it from dirt and bacteria that may enter. The location of the hymen is very close to the mouth of the vagina and protected / covered by the labia minora from the outside.

In newborns, while still under the influence of maternal hormones, the hymen is shaped thick, pale pink, stand out and folded. Often not yet formed a hole in the membrane. For two to four years of life, infants begin to produce the hormone estrogen stimulates the opening of channels that tend to form rounded hymenal ring (annular). Hymenal opening diameter of approximately 1 mm for each year of age. The opening of these channels is different for each woman depending on her hormonal influences. The function of the hole in the hymen is to drain the blood of menstruation. By the time a girl reaches school age, this hormonal influence has been stopped and the hymen becomes thin, smooth, soft, elastic, almost translucent and very sensitive to touch. Hole hymen in women varied size, usually only be bypassed by the little finger without destroying it. In women who have given birth vaginal hymen will be broken and only settled down the rest alone. (Karunkula mitriformis)

So do not be imagined as the hymen is a wall covering a total of vaginal opening. Rather like a thin membrane with holes in the walls.

When the hymen is torn for the first time can be marked with a little discharge of blood and pain. Sometimes it can spend a lot of blood if the tattered pieces widened. Bleeding and pain is normal and will soon disappear. But not always trauma to the hymen menimbulan bleeding. In an elastic hymen bleeding is often not the case. So that the sanctity of a woman should not be solely characterized by bleeding or not at the time of first intercourse.

Get a pregnancy without tearing the hymen?

Keep in mind also that pregnancy can occur without tearing the hymen or without penetration. In the fertile period, women spend a lot of watery mucus so that sperm can move into the uterus easily. So although it is still coated pants sperm can still penetrate. Or when there is direct contact between the penis with the lips of the vagina / vulva sperm can still move inside.

Variations of the hymen

Type annular hymen hymen is a form that is perfect. Type called annular because the full round shape like a ring and form most commonly found.

Annular Hymen Anatomy and Shape Variation 150x150 membrane Dara

Hymenal septum type because of the septum or membrane that forms a bridge to the mouth of the vagina for making holes that are not perfect.
Hymenal type crescent. Ring-shaped incomplete bulatannya.
Type the hymen is seldom found where the shape of the lips of the vulva. Interruption occurs during the formation of holes.
Hymen with Fimbia type is characterized by irregular pattern (irregular) on the walls.
Hymenal type dentikuler because patterned like teeth around the hole hymen.
Hymenal subseptus type. Hymen is a rare type. Shaped like the septum but not full (similar shape to the child's throat)

Variations group hymenal membrane Dara Anatomy and Shape

Hymen abnormalities that require surgical repair

Known as the hymen kribiformis characterized by many small holes like a sieve. Often found difficulties in sexual relationships and require surgery for correction.
In some of the girls found only a very small hole (like pin needles). Can lead to difficulty in sexual relations even require surgery to widen the hole.
Hymen that does not have holes or imperforate hymen. Usually found in newborns. If the hole is not formed until the adults there will be disturbances in menstruation. Found at 1 in 2000 women. In women must be taken to make the channel hymen surgery.


Anatomy and Shape Variation imperforate hymen

Anatomy of the hymen with a history of trauma (sexual intercourse, tampon use, masturbation) before

Form of the hymen in women who are torn during sexual intercourse the first time. Visible tear in the back of the clock 4,5,7,8.

Broken Hymen Anatomy and Shape Variation 150x150 membrane Dara

Hymen of women who masturbate deep into the vagina (internal) or in women tampon users. Change shape and sometimes found a torn hymen.
Hymenal form that was almost lost in women who had vaginal childbirth.