Virginity means that someone has not yet had sexual intercourse. There are many other kinds of sex besides sexual intercourse.
Both boys (men) and girls (women) can be virgins.
Hymen: no proof of virginity
You cannot see or feel that someone is a virgin. Not even a doctor can do this.
The hymen is not a proof of virginity:
- The hymen is not a membrane that closes off the vagina. The hymen therefore does not tear entirely when a woman has sexual intercourse for the first time.
- A woman does not always bleed when she has sexual intercourse for the first time. Most women do not. If the hymen is very tight, a woman may bleed a bit. Operations to construct or restore the hymen very often do not make any difference.
- A woman cannot lose her virginity by using tampons during the menstrual period. If you want to feel more secure, you can use sanitary towels instead.
Woman lying down with her legs spread. The focus is on the visible sexual organs.
Detail of the hymen inside the vagina: a supple rim of tissue. The hymen is not a membrane that closes off the vagina.
Detail of a wider hymen that does not rip during sexual intercourse. This is what happens in most cases.
