# What is a "hymen"?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-hymen/281523
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 24, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-hymen/281523 "2004-12-24T21:32:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@StoryofaLampshade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StoryofaLampshade)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-hymen/281523/1 "2004-12-24T21:32:17Z")
I’ve read about _what_ a hymen is but I don’t see how it’s possible. Wouldn’t a woman’s menstrual cycle “break” it? or tampons? I don’t understand this. Please help me to understand. 😕
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### Author:  [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2004, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-hymen/281523/2 "2004-12-24T21:46:12Z")
The red is a really really inappropriate color for this question.
Most posters here prefer you post in black.
. Looks like a site for teens.[First Google hit](http://www.coolnurse.com/hymen.htm) may or may not be safe for work.
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### Author:  [@StoryofaLampshade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StoryofaLampshade)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-hymen/281523/3 "2004-12-24T21:52:02Z")
Oh my goodness…I didn’t even think of that…is there a way to edit it?
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### Author:  [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-hymen/281523/4 "2004-12-24T21:53:10Z")
> [@StoryofaLampshade](#):
>
> Wouldn’t a woman’s menstrual cycle “break” it?
No. It’s not as if it’s a piece of plastic wrap over a bowl, there’s at least one opening to let things out. If, by some chance there isn’t one (it happens sometimes) a doctor’s visit is usually in order.
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2004, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-hymen/281523/5 "2004-12-24T21:56:01Z")
Make a circle with your thumb and 2nd finger. Note the web between the thumb knuckle and 2nd knuckle. This is somewhat analogous to the hymen.
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### Author:  [@StoryofaLampshade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StoryofaLampshade)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2004, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-hymen/281523/6 "2004-12-24T22:11:54Z")
Thank you. The link in FilmGeek’s post cleared everything up.
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### Author:  [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-hymen/281523/7 "2004-12-24T22:17:20Z")
The question still remains:
> [@StoryofaLampshade](#):
>
> I’ve read about _what_ a hymen is
What books where you reading? 😕
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2004, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-hymen/281523/8 "2004-12-25T14:52:35Z")
It’s an over-reaction to a poisoning case a couple of decades ago. Ever since then, you see things like:
[ul][li]Safety Sealed for Your Protection[/li][li]Do Not Eat If Seal Is Broken[/li][li]Tamper-Resistant Cap[/ul][/li]Hey, would I make this stuff up?
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### Author:  [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2004, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-hymen/281523/9 "2004-12-25T15:14:48Z")
It’s a musical group - “Willie Nelson and the Hymen.”
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### Author:  [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-hymen/281523/10 "2004-12-25T15:51:34Z")
Actually, I thought the color of the OP was quite relevant to the question.
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### Author:  [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)
#### Post date: [December 25, 2004, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-hymen/281523/11 "2004-12-25T22:42:28Z")
> [@StoryofaLampshade](#):
>
> I’ve read about _what_ a hymen is but I don’t see how it’s possible. Wouldn’t a woman’s menstrual cycle “break” it? or tampons? I don’t understand this. Please help me to understand. 😕
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WAG Hi Men is the plural of Hi Man!\*