During the first sexual intercourse, the insertion of the male sexual organ inside the vagina causes the virginal membrane (hymen) to puncture. The hymen is a crease of mucous 1-3 mm wide located on the vaginal entrance. It can be in different shapes, but it is usually ring like (hymen anularis). The hymen can have the shape of a half-moon (hymen semilunaris), tooth (hymen denticulatus) or uvula (hymen fimbriatus). It can also have a partition on the middle that separates the two openings (hymen septus), it can have a few small openings (hymen cribriformis) or it can be consisted from several bigger creases (hymen lobatus).
On the middle of the hymen is an opening (foramen hymenale) that is sometimes missing (atresia hymenalis). Under these circumstances, during the first menstrual period, surgery is required to create an opening on the hymen for the menstrual blood to come out. The edges of the hymen are smooth or creased. The hymen opening is usually 10-15 mm wide, but there are significant individual variations. Therefore, sometimes the hymen stays untouched even after the first sexual intercourse. This is often the case with young girls whose hymens can be very elastic.
During defloration, one or more punctures of the hymen occur that are usually located in the lower half. These punctures can go to the actual base of the hymen (very rare), and sometimes they can include even the vaginal mucous (for example, during a heavy or strong sexual intercourse or during an intercourse with children). Pain and bleeding of different intensity occurs in this case.
Usually, the hymen edges recover from 7-10 days. During greater punctures, more time is required.
Confirming defloration based on findings of hymen deformation is certain only if the edge of the puncture hasn’t yet healed. Keeping in mind the mentioned variations in shape and elasticity of the hymen, if there aren’t any recent indications of puncture, a lot of caution is needed for any conclusion.
The characteristics of hymen punctures during defloration are:
• the hymen puncture spreads to the hymen base, sometimes even to the vaginal mucous
• the puncture edges are swollen, round and with scars
• the puncture is usually located on the lower half of the hymen
• the angle of the puncture is sharp
Natural carves and creases on the hymen can cause significant difficulties during its differentiation from the puncture during defloration. The features of the natural carve that are located on the hymen are:
• they rarely reach the base of the hymen, but there are none of them on the vaginal mucous
• the edges are sharp, thin and without scars
• they are located allover the hymen
• the edge of the carve has the shape of an obtuse angle
Puncture of the hymen can also be caused by other ways, not only by during a sexual intercourse. For example, it can be caused by insertion of various objects in the vagina for the purpose of masturbation (in case of mentally ill persons), practitioner’s carelessness and rarely by physical injury. There is a possibility that some diseases leave scars on the woman’s outer sexual organ, during which changes may occur on the hymen. These changes can be hardly differentiated from a puncture during defloration (for example, measles, various types of erosive vulvitis – vaginal infections, etc.).
Puncture of the hymen may also occur among young athletes without any sexual experience whatsoever. It (hymen) can be very elastic so it may burst on its own (stretch on its own).
Finding sperm inside the vagina, even in the case of a preserved hymen, doesn’t mean that the defloration occurred. Discovering sexual diseases or pregnancy has the same value. On the other hand, existence of an intact hymen is reliable proof that there had been no defloration, if presence of an especially elastic hymen or its specific shape is excluded.
A normal sexual intercourse and defloration are possible among girls aged 12 and over. Between ages 10-12 a sexual intercourse is hardly possible, and between ages 9-10 it is usually impossible because the sexual organs aren’t developed enough.
Written by: dr. med. Livia Puljak
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