What is the Hymen?
The hymen is a small piece of tissue formed in front of the vaginal opening during foetal development. It is present in different shapes and sizes which can change over time. While the hymen doesn’t serve a clear purpose, there are notions that the hymen can help keep bacteria and foreign objects outside the vagina.
Culturally, the hymen has a reputation for being a marker of sexual activity. It is a misconception that the hymen only breaks when one has penetrative sex for the first time. It is possible for a virgin to have a torn hymen. It is possible for someone who has had sex to have their hymen still intact.
A woman does not always bleed after having penetrative sex for the first time. While the percentages vary across studies, roughly 40-50% of women bleed after losing their virginity. Thus, it is impossible to test for one’s virginity status by examining the hymen.
The hymen breaks as a result of being worn down gradually through various activities like playing sports, riding a bicycle, vigorous exercise, masturbation, inserting a tampon or menstrual cup and penetrative sex as well.
Each body may have a different response to the hymen tearing. While some experience tolerable pain and light bleeding, others may not come to know that their hymen has torn. The torn hymen usually blends with the rest of the vaginal opening.
Also read - Hymen blood and period blood
Does the Menstrual Cup Break the Hymen?
If your hymen is still intact when you start to use a menstrual cup, there are chances that the process of inserting and removing the cup could break the hymen. This shouldn’t stop you from using a menstrual cup if you’d like to try it. Make sure to be gentle and to follow the recommended instructions when using a menstrual cup.
Can Virgins Use Menstrual Cups?
Yes, virgins can use menstrual cups! It is a misconception that the vagina gets looser as one has more penetrative sex.
A virgin’s vaginal muscles may be more tense and the vaginal opening may be smaller than the rest of the vagina. This is why a smaller size is generally recommended to teenagers.
Using a menstrual cup doesn’t affect your virginity as it is not equivalent to having penetrative sex. In case using a menstrual cup causes your hymen to tear, it will not affect your status as a virgin.
Also read - Menstrual cup side effects
Using a Menstrual Cup for the First Time
When using a menstrual cup for the first time, it's recommended to try inserting it before your period so that you can gain some confidence without having to worry about a messy situation.
A menstrual cup may feel slightly awkward at first but it should feel comfortable if inserted properly.
Use water or a water-based lubricant to prevent any friction and smoothen the insertion process.
To safely insert a menstrual cup, get into a comfortable position in which you can relax your body. This could be a squat or having one leg raised higher than the other. Fold the cup using the c-fold or punch down method. Insert it into your vagina until the cup pops and creates a suction seal.
Are There Any Risks?
Menstrual cups made of medical-grade material are generally safe to use. However, using a menstrual cup may cause issues in case the size is not appropriate to your body. This can cause pain when inserting or removing the cup.
If the cup isn’t washed and sterilized properly with every use, it could result in infections or irritation.
In case you’re allergic to silicone, using a silicone menstrual cup would not be suitable and you’d have to opt for a menstrual cup made of a different material to use a cup.
Also read - menstrual cup vs pads
If using a menstrual cup breaks your hymen does it mean you lose your virginity?
No! Virginity is a social construct around being inexperienced in sexual intercouse, primarly heterosexual penetrative sex.
The association between a broken hymen and losing your virginity is erroneous and problematic as the hymen naturally wears down and is susceptible to tearing through other activities like sports, using tampons/menstrual cups or masturbation. A virgin can have a torn hymen.
Is it okay to use menstrual cups for teenagers?
Yes! Teenagers can absolutely use menstrual cups as long as they are responsible and mature enough to insert, remove, and clean the cup on their own. A menstrual cup should not remain inserted for any longer than 12 hours.
There are smaller sizes of menstrual cups which are suited to the anatomy of teenagers.
Cultural Significance of the Hymen
In Indian society, the concept of female virginity is highly overemphasized as a symbol of purity, especially for women looking to get married.
A newlywed bride is expected to bleed after having sexual intercourse with her partner on the first night of their marriage, indicating that her hymen was intact and was torn only recently. This notion is flawed as the hymen is not a reliable indicator of virginity. It also puts the onus of being a virgin before marriage on the women whereas the virginity of the men is not questioned.
Due to this overemphasis on the hymen, hymenoplastie or hymen reconstruction surgeries are becoming more popular for soon-to-be wives to avoid embarrassment or scrutiny during their wedding night. The prevalence of this procedure makes it even more difficult for society to break out of the misconception that the hymen is an indicator of virginity.
The overemphasis on a woman’s virginity before marriage should be challenged as a woman shouldn’t have to prove her virginity before marriage any more than a man does. The taboo on premarital sex can hinder more productive conversations around healthy sex practices among the Indian youth.
Conclusion
If your hymen is still intact before you choose to use a menstrual cup, using the cup can cause the hymen to wear down and eventually tear. You can still use a cup as long as you’re being gentle and cautious.
Remember, the vagina is a muscle which is designed to contract and expand. Entire babies exit through the vagina as a birth canal.
We don’t lament over our baby teeth falling, and there’s no need to worry about having a torn hymen. It’s a natural process that’s bound to happen at some point in our lives.
