# The Hymen (Is There Such A Thing?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [January 16, 2007, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204 "2007-01-16T16:30:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2007, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204/21 "2007-01-17T17:02:09Z")
[QUOTE=Zoe] I saw nothing in the OP to suggest that this bit of ignorance came from feminists. A _feminist_ is one who believes in economic, social and political equality for men and women. [/QUOTE] Well, there are feminists and there are _FEMINISTS!_, and this little bit of anti-scientific doctrine is standard marquee of the latter. I have nothing but respect for those-who honestly promote elgatarianism and equal opportunity but who are willing to face up to ugly or unappealing truths in order to achieve those goals. I have no truck, however, with someone (man, woman, or jolly green giant) who distorts and twists factual information in order to advance an agenda, which sadly describes the most vocal and animated contingent (though probably a minority) of self-described feminists. [QUOTE=Mathochist] [QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] There is no question that the physical hymen exists, and no postmodern revisionary feminist biological philosophy can sweep it aside. [/QUOTE] Not that it’ll stop them from trying. [/QUOTE] As a friend of mine likes to say, “There you go again with your ‘facts’.” But you’ll find reference to it in any standard text on general anatomy, gynocology, or human reproduction. _[Our Bodies, Ourselves](http://www.amazon.com/Our-Bodies-Ourselves-New-Era/dp/0743256115/)_, which certainly can’t be classed as “oppressive male-dominated patricarchial science” speaks in detail regarding the hymen and issues arising therefrom. I recommend that the OP procure this sage text (or check out a copy from the library) and educate his ladyfriend on the basic features of her own equipment. (He might learn a thing or two as well, despite driving the standard shift version of the _H. sapiens_ vehicle.) Stranger ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2007, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204/22 "2007-01-17T17:11:59Z")
Question: Is the hymen “simply” vaginal adhesions that grow with a fetus/baby/girl? I ask because apparently adhesions are very, very common in infant girls. WhyBaby had one and essentially her inner labia closed up for some unknown period of time. We gently rubbed them with a diaper wipe and they unstuck 3 days after her doctor diagnosed it, but I understand some parents have to use estrogen creams to release their daughter’s adhesions. But I could see an adhesion happening higher up, not on the labia but the vaginal walls, not being treated with rubbing or estrogen cream, and “becoming” a thin sheet of flesh that we then call a hymen. That would explain why they’re all different, and why there’s no purpose in it - it’s just skin that develops where other skin got stuck to other skin. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2007, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204/23 "2007-01-17T18:42:02Z")
[QUOTE=olivesmarch4th] I waited 'til my wedding day before I had intercourse. Trust me. The hymen exists. [/QUOTE] I believe you, but what does this have to do with the fact that you were a virgin before you got married? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2007, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204/24 "2007-01-17T18:50:02Z")
[QUOTE=CurtC] I believe you, but what does this have to do with the fact that you were a virgin before you got married? [/QUOTE] I’m guessing the pain of intercourse when one’s hymen is intact? ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204/25 "2007-01-17T20:12:42Z")
But hymen-pain has no bearing on marriage, does it? Wouldn’t olivesmarch4th have had the same pain regardless of her marital state? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2007, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204/26 "2007-01-17T20:56:19Z")
There’s a school of thought circulating around out there which says that some hymens are never torn even through vigorous intercourse, and some hymens are in tatters during a state of virginity, thus the little membranous ring has absolutely no meaning other than that given to leering jealous bridegrooms. Therefore it’s more evidence that Men Just Make Shit Up To Keep Women Down. I don’t have the answer to that, but I think it’s hard to ignore the firsthand anecdotal evidence from women who say that yes, hymen tearing is often a significant part of losing virginity. Maybe not a conclusion in itself, but certainly a data point if you’re trying to evaluate a rape claim or something… a completely imperforate hymen would tend to disprove claims of penetration. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2007, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204/27 "2007-01-17T22:19:58Z")
[QUOTE=CurtC] But hymen-pain has no bearing on marriage, does it? Wouldn’t olivesmarch4th have had the same pain regardless of her marital state? [/QUOTE] She might have. I read it as her saying she was old enough to feel it and remember the pain. My hymen was broken so young I really don’t remember it, nor could I tell you if it hurt or not, separate from the pain of first intercourse before I was ready or aroused. ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2007, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204/28 "2007-01-17T22:37:13Z")
[QUOTE=Zoe] I saw nothing in the OP to suggest that this bit of ignorance came from feminists. A _feminist_ is one who believes in economic, social and political equality for men and women. the horror…the horror… [/QUOTE] but Feminist _Theory_ is a strand of poststructural Critical Theory. See also: Deconstructionism, Queer Theory, etc… ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204/29 "2007-01-19T12:48:01Z")
[QUOTE=Mathochist] but Feminist _Theory_ is a strand of poststructural Critical Theory. See also: Deconstructionism, Queer Theory, etc… [/QUOTE] Critical Theory is beyond the pale. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204/30 "2007-01-19T18:17:01Z")
> [@](#): > > but Feminist Theory is a strand of poststructural Critical Theory. See also: Deconstructionism, Queer Theory, etc… This being **Mathochist** , I somehow suspect that the next post is going to be a formal categorical representation of Feminist Theory and Queer Theory in terms of topos… ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204/31 "2007-01-19T18:23:27Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] This being **Mathochist** , I somehow suspect that the next post is going to be a formal categorical representation of Feminist Theory and Queer Theory in terms of topos… [/QUOTE] I’d buy that for a dollar! Stranger ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204/32 "2007-01-19T22:01:59Z")
I once asked “What is the hymen for?” in high school bio, and was told its purpose is to provide a barrier to infection. That’s all. Your body tries to get by with as few apertures as possible – every one is a vulnerable point. A woman has no practical use for her vaginal canal until she starts having sex, so she might as well have a membrane keeping out the yeast, bacteria, etc. The teacher told me this as if it were a plain well-known fact and not at all controversial. [Cecil’s column](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_226.html) took me totally by surprise. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204/33 "2007-01-19T22:44:59Z")
> [@](#): > > I believe you, but what does this have to do with the fact that you were a virgin before you got married? It doesn’t. But it just happened six months ago, so it’s fresh in my memory. Sorry for the confusion. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204/34 "2007-01-19T22:47:57Z")
> [@](#): > > I believe you, but what does this have to do with the fact that you were a virgin before you got married? It doesn’t. But it just happened six months ago, so it’s fresh in my memory, and owing to the significance of the event and our complete and utter consciousness of what was going on, it was hard to miss. Intercourse f\*\*\*ing hurts. Sorry for the confusion. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204/35 "2007-01-20T04:27:57Z")
[QUOTE=olivesmarch4th] It doesn’t. But it just happened six months ago, so it’s fresh in my memory, and owing to the significance of the event and our complete and utter consciousness of what was going on, it was hard to miss. Intercourse f\*\*\*ing hurts. Sorry for the confusion. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Someone obviously doesn’t know about the fancy new edit function! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204/36 "2007-01-20T04:40:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Someone obviously doesn’t know about the fancy new edit function! OoOoOooh! SHINY! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204/37 "2007-01-20T05:05:57Z")
[QUOTE=Brain Wreck] …and some hymens are in tatters during a state of virginity… [/QUOTE] That’s what the whores get for riding astride and using tampons. Sluts. Just SEE what poor excuses for husbands they manage to land. Their children will be doomed to a life of state colleges and Hamburger Helper because Mom wanted to go swimming during her Visit. (we need a “Tsk-tsk!” smiley) ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2007, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204/38 "2007-01-20T17:11:04Z")
[QUOTE=DSYoungEsq] Someone obviously doesn’t know about the fancy new edit function! 😃 [/QUOTE] Edit the who what now? oh, THAT new edit function. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204/39 "2007-01-22T05:09:01Z")
“If I’d known you were a virgin, I would have taken more time.” “If I’d known you had more time, I would have taken off my pantyhose.” ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204/40 "2007-01-23T01:33:34Z")
This thread makes me think of this gem from the fortunes files: > [@](#): > > Social legislation cannot repeal physical laws. > -Dalin B. Oaks It doesn’t _quite_ fit, but I think it captures the spirit: Wishing _doesn’t_ make it so. Even if you have a five billion strong army or degrees from Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204.md?page=3)