QuestionQUESTION: Hello:
When the hymen of a female is broken from intercourse, what happens to what remains of the hymen? Is it a barrier of skin, and what is its purpose.
I thank you for your reply.
ANSWER: Hello,
The hymen is a residual of skin from development. It is basically torn with the first episode of intercourse in most cases. The skin remains but since it was torn, it is separated and no longer covers the opening to the vagina.
Sincerely,
Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hello:
I want to thank you for your reply.
Why is the hymen formed or what is its purpose?
I thank you for your follow-up reply.
AnswerHi again,
I can't tell you "why" it is formed and it has no purpose. It is formed in fetal development. The vagina actually starts as a closed structure and then canalizes (opens up). The hymen is the skin that is left behind. There is a congenital disorder whereby the vagina doesn't open and surgery has to be done to form a vagina. In that case there is no hymen.
Sincerely,
Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
