Is my hymen intact in these pictures and where is my hymen? (Photos)

Your hymen is not well enough exposed in the photos to make a complete assessment. Nonetheless, some women with an intact hymen will not bleed the first time they have sex. See your gynecologist for a complete examination if you are concerned.

The hymen represents a small flap of tissue that can be torn prematurely. In our center, we focus on a three layer hymen repair that can reconstruct the hymen with precision. Treatments can be performed under anesthesia or under local anesthetic. Post-treatment, patients note some swelling until the repair has epithelialized and healed. 


Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

It is best to be examined in-person to better determine. As many as 30 % of women with an intact #hymen will not #bleed with their first intercourse. This, of course, can create great trauma in many #cultures that insist that a virgin should bleed on her first intimacy with her new husband.  Such is also influential with social value in determining a woman’s chasteness and the paternity of her children. However, it is always possible for a hymen to be torn through a variety of physical activities including horseback riding, dancing, athletics, bicycle riding, gymnastics or while inserting a tampon. It can also be torn by #masturbation. Hymen #restoration surgery or a #hymenoplasty is intended to repair or #reconstruct a woman’s hymen to restore her to her “virginal” anatomy.  This simple surgical #procedure has also been termed Virginity Surgery, Restore Virginity Surgery, Virginity Repair, and Hymen repair surgery.The actual surgery is fairly simple and the procedure can be done with local #anesthesia in an office surgery room.  Oral sedation can be given if the patient desires. However, it is imperative to find a surgeon who is #board certified for your #hymenoplasty and greatly experienced in this procedure.

Your hymen is best visualized in the first photo. It is the membrane surrounding the opening. There appears to be a small laceration at 5:00 and some loss of integrity from 10 - 2:00. What matters most is what the effective diameter of the opening is. If the diameter is smaller than 2 cm, you should have bleeding with first intercourse. Only an exam will answer that question.

Thank you for your question and sharing your photographs. Additional photographs and evaluation by a gynecologist would be needed to make this determination.  A hymenoplasty can be performed for women who wish to reconstruct the hymen.      
Jeffrey S. Palmer, MD, FACS, FAAP (Cosmetic and Reconstructive Urologist -- Cleveland, Ohio)