The hymen is a soft ring of tissue located just behind the entrance to the vagina. It does not close the vagina.
Types of hymens
Each hymen is different in shape and size:
- The skin can be thin or thick.
- The hymen can be smooth, uneven or wrinkled.
- It can be tight or wide.
Sexual intercourse for the first time
A woman does not necessarily bleed when she has sexual intercourse for the first time. It is equally common to not bleed as to bleed the first time.
If the hymen is stretched or torn it might hurt a bit, and some women lose a few drops of blood. However, most women do not notice it.
Some women might lose some blood because of wounds or tears in the vagina. This might occur if the woman isn't sufficiently aroused and sexually excited. It might also happen if the muscles around the vagina are too tight because the woman is tense.
The hymen cannot prove that a woman is still a virgin. The hymen can already be stretched or torn, even if the woman is still a virgin.
