Q: What are the pros and cons of hymenoplasty?

Pros A hymenoplasty may alleviate anxiety and fear about the wedding night for women in religious families. The surgery is safe when it’s performed by a skilled physician. You will likely be able to return to work the next day. Results last many years, if you refrain from sexual intercourse or using tampons. Cons Possible risks include infection, scarring, painful intercourse, and wound dehiscence (when the wound opens along the sutures). An intact hymen (whether natural or due to a hymenoplasty) does not guarantee that a woman will bleed upon vaginal penetration. Fewer than half of all women experience bleeding the first time they have sex. You should not undergo surgery if you have any active or untreated pelvic infections, bleeding disorders, malignancy, or chronic pain in the area. Because this surgery is culturally controversial in the U.S., it can be difficult in some areas of the country to find board-certified surgeons who can safely perform it.

Question 1

What is a hymenoplasty?

Accepted Answer

The hymen is a thin membrane that surrounds or partially covers the opening of the vagina. Its appearance varies from woman to woman, and it becomes more elastic and prone to tearing as women go through puberty, use tampons, play sports, or have sexual intercourse.

Many cultures associate an intact hymen with virginity, though its mere presence is not considered to be a reliable indicator. Because of this and the violence some women face if their virginity prior to marriage is called into question, the U.N. Human Rights Council, U.N. Women, and the World Health Organization have all called for a ban on virginity testing.

However, hymen repair (or restoration) of a torn hymen is possible with a surgical procedure called a hymenoplasty, hymenorrhaphy, or "revirgination."

The most common reason for undergoing a hymenoplasty is the desire to recover the appearance of virginal status for cultural and religious reasons. Some women also seek out this reconstructive surgery after sexual assault, to help them regain a sense of control over their bodies.

Related: For Women Who Seek Hymenoplasty in the U.S., Finding a Cooperative Doctor Can Be the Difference Between Life and Death

Question 2

What are the pros and cons of hymenoplasty?

Accepted Answer

Pros

A hymenoplasty may alleviate anxiety and fear about the wedding night for women in religious families.
The surgery is safe when it’s performed by a skilled physician.
You will likely be able to return to work the next day.
Results last many years, if you refrain from sexual intercourse or using tampons.

Cons

Possible risks include infection, scarring, painful intercourse, and wound dehiscence (when the wound opens along the sutures).
An intact hymen (whether natural or due to a hymenoplasty) does not guarantee that a woman will bleed upon vaginal penetration. Fewer than half of all women experience bleeding the first time they have sex.
You should not undergo surgery if you have any active or untreated pelvic infections, bleeding disorders, malignancy, or chronic pain in the area.
Because this surgery is culturally controversial in the U.S., it can be difficult in some areas of the country to find board-certified surgeons who can safely perform it.

Question 3

What happens during hymenoplasty surgery?

Accepted Answer

The procedure takes place under local or general anesthesia, which means the surgery itself is painless. It usually takes less than half an hour.

With the patient’s legs in stirrups, the surgeon locates the remnants of the hymen and gently removes the edges, with scissors or a scalpel. They then suture the fragments together so that the vaginal opening becomes smaller.

In a 2015 retrospective study, a surgical technique known as the STSI (suture three stratums around the introitus) method had mostly positive outcomes, with restoration of all three layers of the hymen.

Question 4

What should you expect during hymenoplasty recovery?

Accepted Answer

You should have only one day of downtime after your surgery. Over the next two to four weeks, as your hymen heals, you’ll likely experience some light bleeding, swelling, bruising, and minor discomfort, which can be alleviated with prescription pain medication. You’ll also need to take antibiotics and keep the area clean, to prevent infection.