# At what point does virginity end for a woman? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 18, 2015, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047 "2015-02-18T23:29:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047/21 "2015-02-19T03:37:06Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > \ I got nothin. If a sexually active lady never gets penetrated. I’m not sure virgin still applies. But I have no idea what term would. She’d be virgo intacta, but not a virgin in the “never had sex” sense. Or as we used to say when I was 15, “virgin in the ear”. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047/22 "2015-02-19T03:42:49Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > She’d be virgo intacta, but not a virgin in the “never had sex” sense. Or as we used to say when I was 15, “virgin in the ear”. Yeah, usually ear virginity is the last to go. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047/23 "2015-02-19T06:29:24Z")
I believe in whatever the appropriate article was concerning rape, the Uniform Code of Military Justice used the phrase “_…penetration, however slight…_” ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047/24 "2015-02-19T06:45:38Z")
I think its a mix of physical and mental. A woman can have a broken hymen for a number of reasons but still technically be a virgin. In the case of rape, I dont see that as counting because it was non-consentual. Also lets say a woman has sex at age 17 but doesnt have it again for a few years. That next time will probably feel like the first. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047/25 "2015-02-19T14:19:38Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > When she decides it has. I think this is the best criteria. I don’t think anyone would really want to argue with me except out of jerkishness if my first encounter was a rape and I chose not to count that. I can’t help the batshit crazy, but it seems silly to me that a lesbian should be counted a virgin. We put way too much emphasis on the stupid hymen, anyway. Those things often break long before sexual maturity. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047/26 "2015-02-19T15:45:30Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Yeah, usually ear virginity is the last to go. Still hanging on to mine! ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047/27 "2015-02-19T16:10:39Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > What if the only penetration is non-consensual? I’m going to have to take the unpopular argument here; namely, that rape means that virginity is gone, just like consensual sex means that virginity is gone. I don’t think the technical, dictionary definition of virginity is affected by whether there was consent or not. Yes, the person had sex forced upon him or her against their will - a terrible crime - but that does not change the fact that the person is, technically, not a virgin anymore. To use an analogy, if Person A voluntarily gets an ink tattoo of his own free will, he has a tattoo. If Person B has an ink tattoo forcibly applied to his face against his will, he also has a tattoo. Whether there was consent or not does not change the fact that Person B now has a tattoo. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047/28 "2015-02-19T16:18:57Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > I think its a mix of physical and mental. A woman can have a broken hymen for a number of reasons but still technically be a virgin. > > In the case of rape, I dont see that as counting because it was non-consentual. > > Also lets say a woman has sex at age 17 but doesnt have it again for a few years. That next time will probably feel like the first. Nope. Not true. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047/29 "2015-02-19T16:23:35Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > When the penis has entered the vagina. Which suggests a, er…loophole (definitely not safe for work):[spoiler][https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8ZF\_R\_j0OY[/spoiler]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8ZF_R_j0OY%5B/spoiler%5D) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047/30 "2015-02-19T18:32:44Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I’m going to have to take the unpopular argument here; namely, that rape means that virginity is gone, just like consensual sex means that virginity is gone. > > I don’t think the technical, dictionary definition of virginity is affected by whether there was consent or not. Yes, the person had sex forced upon him or her against their will - a terrible crime - but that does not change the fact that the person is, technically, not a virgin anymore. > > To use an analogy, if Person A voluntarily gets an ink tattoo of his own free will, he has a tattoo. If Person B has an ink tattoo forcibly applied to his face against his will, he also has a tattoo. Whether there was consent or not does not change the fact that Person B now has a tattoo. If it comes down to the purely physical effects, yes. But both experiences are experiences – physical, emotional, mental. I would say they didn’t have sex – they were raped. The tattooee didn’t have the experience of being tattooed – they were assaulted. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047/31 "2015-02-19T18:47:15Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > When you break the seal and the little button on the lid pops up. [Scandalous Wench!](http://www.pbfcomics.com/227/) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047/32 "2015-02-19T18:53:53Z")
_When you hear the balls slap then it’s “Hello” to the tap_ ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047/33 "2015-02-19T18:54:38Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > When she decides it has. Yeah. My college girlfriend insisted on maintaining her virginity until marriage, or at least until the proposal. That didn’t stop us from engaging in every sexual act we could come up with- oral, anal, penetration of her vagina with fingers and objects, masturbation, … basically everything except penis-in-vagina. By her own estimation, she was still a virgin as of graduation. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047/34 "2015-02-19T19:02:23Z")
Because I like for words to have meanings, I’m going to take a stand and say that a “virgin” is a woman whose vagina has never been penetrated by a penis, consensually or otherwise. A lesbian who has screwed half of Smith College but never been penetrated by a man is still a virgin by my definition, however: the classification has no bearing on her life. It also means that horny BYU undergrads can use the back door all they want and still call themselves virgins, if it makes their little hearts happy. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047/35 "2015-02-19T19:46:12Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > Because I like for words to have meanings, I’m going to take a stand and say that a “virgin” is a woman whose vagina has never been penetrated by a penis, consensually or otherwise. > > A lesbian who has screwed half of Smith College but never been penetrated by a man is still a virgin by my definition, however: the classification has no bearing on her life. > > It also means that horny BYU undergrads can use the back door all they want and still call themselves virgins, if it makes their little hearts happy. I would like to suggest that the classification has no bearing on anyone’s life. At what point is a man’s virginity ended: When he penetrates a woman, another man, or when he ejaculates? And why do we value girls for their virginity but not boys? The whole thing smells of shenanigans and frankly, I want no part of it. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047/36 "2015-02-19T20:03:01Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > The whole thing smells of shenanigans and frankly, I want no part of it. Smells fishy to me. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047/37 "2015-02-19T20:04:37Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > The whole thing smells of shenanigans and frankly, I want no part of it. Not even a little piece? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047/38 "2015-02-19T20:06:31Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > I would like to suggest that the classification has no bearing on anyone’s life. > > At what point is a man’s virginity ended: When he penetrates a woman, another man, or when he ejaculates? > > And why do we value girls for their virginity but not boys? > > The whole thing smells of shenanigans and frankly, I want no part of it. Historically, I’d say we in the West value girls’ virginity but not boys because the “purity” of the former was an asset to their fathers; that women’s sexuality was something men wanted to control. Put another way: Dogzilla is correct in sentiment but should have used more profanity. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047/39 "2015-02-19T20:17:05Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Historically, I’d say we in the West value girls’ virginity but not boys because the “purity” of the former was an asset to their fathers; that women’s sexuality was something men wanted to control. > > Put another way: Dogzilla is correct in sentiment but should have used more profanity. I will concede that last point. I’m all for using more profanity. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047/40 "2015-02-19T20:19:02Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > I will concede that last point. I’m all for using more profanity. 😉 I will send over a comfortbot with a list of 1728 new and extraordinarily filthy cuss words, and also a plate of cookies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-virginity-end-for-a-woman/713047.md?page=3)