# What's the purpose of the hymen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 25, 1999, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273 "1999-09-25T06:39:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 1999, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273/1 "1999-09-25T06:39:00Z")
Every schoolboy knows that the hymen is just one of those tamper-proof seals designed to keep the freshness in. ---
**Author:** ![Jomolungma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b2d939/32.png) [@Jomolungma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jomolungma)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 1999, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273/2 "1999-10-07T12:38:00Z")
And _this_ is Mother Nature’s true genius: Unlike Tupperware, it need not be “burped” to achieve maximum results. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273/3 "1999-10-08T21:56:00Z")
Also, unlike Tupperware, it serves as a very useful on-board alarm system to warn of incoming missle strikes. ---
**Author:** ![metroshane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@metroshane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/metroshane)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273/4 "1999-10-08T22:23:00Z")
I think Oscar Wilde said it best “no good deed goes unpunished!” ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 1999, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273/5 "1999-10-09T00:51:00Z")
[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_226.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_226.html) … as tempted as I am to simply delete this thread… Jill ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 1999, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273/6 "1999-10-12T21:43:00Z")
I thank you for your forbearance Jill. While I had hoped to revive an old topic and perhaps solicit a fresh thought or two, I must admit that the mere mention of Tupperware does indicate a certain desperation. Perhaps it would be better to forget the whole thing and strike out in a new direction. Anyone have any thoughts on adenoids? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 1999, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273/7 "1999-10-12T21:44:00Z")
I thank you for your forbearance Jill. While I had hoped to revive an old topic and perhaps solicit a fresh thought or two, I must admit that the mere mention of Tupperware does indicate a certain desperation. Perhaps it would be better to forget the whole thing and strike out in a new direction. Anyone have any thoughts on adenoids? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 1999, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273/8 "1999-10-12T21:44:00Z")
I thank you for your forbearance Jill. While I had hoped to revive an old topic and perhaps solicit a fresh thought or two, I must admit that the mere mention of Tupperware does indicate a certain desperation. Perhaps it would be better to forget the whole thing and strike out in a new direction. Anyone have any thoughts on adenoids? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 1999, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273/9 "1999-10-13T13:32:00Z")
Wo - that Sudafed is stronger than I thought - I’m having triple vision!!! * * * Kara’s Bizarre Movie Quote for the Day: “It’s the Amazing Technicolor Cheese Wedge!” –MST3K The Movie ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 1999, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273/10 "1999-10-14T05:35:00Z")
Is there an echo in here…here…here? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 1999, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273/11 "1999-10-13T22:43:00Z")
This is tremendously embarrassing. I have absolutely no idea how that happened. . . happened . . . happened . . . ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 1999, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273/12 "1999-10-13T22:44:00Z")
This is tremendously embarrassing. I have absolutely no idea how that happened. . . happened . . . happened . . . ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 1999, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273/13 "1999-10-13T22:45:00Z")
This is tremendously embarrassing. I have absolutely no idea how that happened. . . happened . . . happened . . . ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 1999, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273/14 "1999-10-13T23:15:00Z")
Okay, I think I’m finally getting the hang of this. Just in the unlikely event that I’m not the only one who didn’t know – if you hit the little “Back Page” navigational tool after posting your post, the ghosts in the machine re-post your just posted post. And if you’re stubborn about it they’ll just keep on re-posting it until you get the idea. We apologize for the inconvenience, and now return you to your regularly scheduled program, already in progress . . . . ---
**Author:** ![Jomolungma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b2d939/32.png) [@Jomolungma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jomolungma)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 1999, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273/15 "1999-10-14T10:36:00Z")
I really don’t know where you’re going with this, **Crick** , and I’m puzzled. I don’t see _any_ connection whatever between adenoids and Tupperware. ---
**Author:** ![BenDover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@BenDover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BenDover)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 1999, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273/16 "1999-10-14T14:51:00Z")
As long as you’re discussing useless body parts, does anybody have an opinion on the appendix? And I know someone who kept their appendix in Tupperware! * * * Its not junk - its a collection! ---
**Author:** ![Jomolungma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b2d939/32.png) [@Jomolungma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jomolungma)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 1999, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273/17 "1999-10-15T11:19:00Z")
I know in my own case (and this was confirmed in some of the background reports on Jeffrey Dahmer I’ve read) Tupperware makes a _highly unsuitable_ repository for human parts because of the interaction of certain polymers with cellular vacuoles. When in doubt, be it appendix or otherwise, go with glass! ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 1999, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273/18 "1999-10-15T14:24:00Z")
Continuing my tradition of noting how .sig lines fit text, may I point out Ben’s… > [@](#): > > And I know someone who kept their appendix in Tupperware! > > * * * > > Its not junk - its a collection! ---
**Author:** ![Kyberneticist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kyberneticist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyberneticist)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 1999, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273/19 "1999-10-18T23:09:00Z")
A plausible parallel between the hymen in sea mammals and humans is found in the aquatic ape theory, which proposes that humans diverged from other primates through a period of evolution in a marshy/watery environment. [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/5168/aat\_leaflet.html](http://www.geocities.com/Athens/5168/aat_leaflet.html) ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 1999, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273/20 "1999-10-19T01:15:00Z")
Kyber: That link is great! What an intense theory! I love stuff like that! I’m not a biologist, so I can’t really evaluate it, but it really tickled my fins. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/273.md?page=2)