# What's the purpose of the hymen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [January 13, 2007, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781 "2007-01-13T01:26:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SlowMindThinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@SlowMindThinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlowMindThinking)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781/21 "2013-04-18T18:38:47Z")
I’d say its there because it hasn’t been selected against, and genetic drift hasn’t accidentally eliminated them. Seriously. Lord knows, if anyone does, why it came about in the first place. Perhaps as part of the development of sexual organs for the lineage that became mammals, perhaps as part of those modifications that led to placental mammals, who knows. But it won’t go away unless something selects against it, or genetic drift does it in. I’d look at placental mammals that have hymen, and ones that don’t. Look for what either group has in common that the other doesn’t. (size, hairy penises, who knows). If there is nothing in common, then most likely women have hymen because genetic drift didn’t do away with it. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781/22 "2013-04-18T19:29:37Z")
> [@HDCS](#): > > Mike, I think you’re sorta on track there. But personally, I think it’s just an evolutionary holdover like the gallbladder. The gallbladder stores bile when it isn’t needed for digesting fats and releases it when it is, it might not be vital for survival but that is not the same as useless. ---
**Author:** ![AGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781/23 "2013-04-18T21:51:18Z")
> [@](#): > > The appendix is active in many plant eaters, but in carnivores and omnivores, like us, it is usually just sitting there. The appendix might not be entirely useless to humans – there are studies that strongly suggest it plays a role in our gut ecosystem. The idea is that it provides a safe haven for bacteria, where they won’t get flushed out by diarrhea. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781/24 "2013-04-20T23:40:45Z")
The purpose for the hymen? So the groom could spread the sheet on the baclony after the marriage and all the people below would know that he had married a virgin … 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781/25 "2013-04-21T00:15:43Z")
> [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > The purpose for the hymen? > > So the groom could spread the sheet on the baclony after the marriage and > all the people below would know that he had married a virgin … 🙂 For those of you who hadn’t heard, a “baclony” is a type of proto-sandwich made using whole apples instead of bread. An old-world treat popular between 4th century BC and 1200AD, it was eventually abandoned when someone figured out that sandwiches are much easier to eat when they don’t roll away whenever you set them down. ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781/26 "2013-04-21T18:43:00Z")
> [@](#): > > The purpose for the hymen? I am bemused as to why so many person seem to think that everything has a purpose. Is there something in our cultural background, perhaps acquired from the ancients which dictates that everything should have a purpose? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781/27 "2013-04-21T18:51:53Z")
> [@janeslogin](#): > > I am bemused as to why so many person seem to think that everything has a purpose. Is there something in our cultural background, perhaps acquired from the ancients which dictates that everything should have a purpose? Are you asking what the purpose of purpose is? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781/28 "2013-04-21T19:00:36Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Are you asking what the purpose of purpose is? 😃 If you feel better expressing it that way? ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781/29 "2013-04-21T22:50:59Z")
"Lead us, Evolution, lead us, Up the future’s endless stair; Chop us, change us, prod us, weed us. For stagnation is despair: Groping, guessing, yet progressing, Lead us nobody knows where.” … the rest of the verses are not hard to find online. —C. S. Lewis ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781/30 "2013-04-22T00:31:02Z")
> [@John\_W.Kennedy](#): > > "Lead us, Evolution, lead us, > Up the future’s endless stair; > Chop us, change us, prod us, weed us. > For stagnation is despair: > Groping, guessing, yet progressing, > Lead us nobody knows where.” > > … the rest of the verses are not hard to find online. > > —C. S. Lewis Wow, I had no idea that poem was about vajone. Good one, C. S. Lewis. Good one. ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781/31 "2013-04-22T17:26:53Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Are you asking what the purpose of purpose is? 😃 Actually, no. What I asked was “Is there something in our cultural background, perhaps acquired from the ancients which dictates that everything should have a purpose?” ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781/32 "2013-04-22T17:46:32Z")
> [@John\_W.Kennedy](#): > > … the rest of the verses are not hard to find online. > > —C. S. Lewis Wow, I didn’t know the internet was that old. > [@janeslogin](#): > > Actually, no. What I asked was “Is there something in our cultural background, perhaps acquired from the ancients which dictates that everything should have a purpose?” Certainly one could argue that the influence of christianity on Western culture drives that kind of expectation. I suspect, though, if you look to the writings of the Greeks you will find prior influences that carry the same assumption. Alternately, there is the approach of looking at childhood development and the growth of reasoning and how children make sense of the world. There is a stage of development where children frame everything in terms of desire and purpose and things wanting things, etc. It makes sense, from an evolutionary perspective, that if humans go through a stage of projecting intent upon the world, that there would be an inherent bias to continuing that projection into adulthood. I have seen that proposed as an explanation for the basis of religious beliefs. YMMV. I read it on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781/33 "2013-04-22T21:51:08Z")
Was I the only one who saw (and was revolted by) the episode of _Enterprise_ in which Our Heroes commit genocide, and justify it as the Inexorable Will of the Great God Evolution? ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781/34 "2013-04-23T13:40:57Z")
> [@John\_W.Kennedy](#): > > Was I the only one who saw (and was revolted by) the episode of _Enterprise_ in which Our Heroes commit genocide, and justify it as the Inexorable Will of the Great God Evolution? Uh… yes? ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781/35 "2013-04-24T00:41:54Z")
Well, I can see why people would _want_ to forget it, but I’m surprised that it could be done so easily. It was pretty ’orrible, Bruce. ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781/36 "2013-04-24T05:28:01Z")
> [@John\_W.Kennedy](#): > > Well, I can see why people would _want_ to forget it, but I’m surprised that it could be done so easily. It was pretty ’orrible, Bruce. Man, they just don’t build **Kennedys** to last any more. ---
**Author:** ![refugi0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@refugi0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/refugi0)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781/37 "2013-04-24T16:16:53Z")
Hmm this argument seems to be slowing down. just to liven things up, As Doug Adams pointed out, sometimes the question is more important than the answer. May I suggest that the questions (other than being submitted to Great Computer for revision) should perhaps be “Does the hymen have a FUNCTION?” ---
**Author:** ![refugi0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@refugi0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/refugi0)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781/38 "2013-04-24T16:24:20Z")
further thought. Have you ever seen what little kids stick up their noses?? ---
**Author:** ![Powers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Powers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Powers)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2013, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781/39 "2013-04-25T13:36:32Z")
> [@colander](#): > > Uh… yes? He’s talking, I believe, about “Dear Doctor”, in which the crew encounters a planet with two sentient species, one advanced and dominant and the other less advanced and subservient. The crew is asked to assist the dominant species with a pandemic that is killing them, and Doctor Phlox discovers that the cause is genetic. The dominant species is fated to die out, allowing the subservient species to become the dominant life form on the planet. Archer wants to help, but Phlox espouses a prototype version of the Prime Directive, which suggests that curing the epidemic would unfairly interfere with the natural development of the planet’s biome. Phlox’s argument holds sway, and the crew provides medical help to alleviate the suffering of the dying, but does not provide a cure. This is not “genocide” as the term is normally understood, but certainly there’s a strong argument that it’s unethical and cruel. That’s the whole point of the episode – that there’s no easy answer, and that the moral underpinnings that govern our life on Earth may need to give way to even greater imperatives once we encounter extra-terrestrial life. It pains the characters deeply to make this decision, because it goes against everything they know about compassion and respect for life. But in the end they are held to an even greater moral precept, that each planet is unique, and its people must be the ones to determine that planet’s path without interference from without. Powers &8^] ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781/40 "2013-04-25T17:06:16Z")
> [@Powers](#): > > He’s talking, I believe, about “Dear Doctor”, in which the crew encounters a planet with two sentient species, one advanced and dominant and the other less advanced and subservient. The crew is asked to assist the dominant species with a pandemic that is killing them, and Doctor Phlox discovers that the cause is genetic. The dominant species is fated to die out, allowing the subservient species to become the dominant life form on the planet. > > Archer wants to help, but Phlox espouses a prototype version of the Prime Directive, which suggests that curing the epidemic would unfairly interfere with the natural development of the planet’s biome. Phlox’s argument holds sway, and the crew provides medical help to alleviate the suffering of the dying, but does not provide a cure. > > This is not “genocide” as the term is normally understood, but certainly there’s a strong argument that it’s unethical and cruel. That’s the whole point of the episode – that there’s no easy answer, and that the moral underpinnings that govern our life on Earth may need to give way to even greater imperatives once we encounter extra-terrestrial life. > > It pains the characters deeply to make this decision, because it goes against everything they know about compassion and respect for life. But in the end they are held to an even greater moral precept, that each planet is unique, and its people must be the ones to determine that planet’s path without interference from without. > Powers &8^] Your summary of a Star Wars novel or whatever all that is up there is about as irrelevant to the topic of female anatomy as I think anything can ever be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781.md?page=3)