What is a Hymen?
A hymen is a thin membrane in the vagina opening. It is shaped like a ring and sheds blood when a virgin girl or woman engages in deep sexual intercourse for the first time. For generations, the hymen and shedding of blood on the wedding night, having engaged in sexual intercourse has been a sign of purity and virginity.
Though that is a general belief, some girls or women are born without a hymen or others lose the hymen through strenuous or athletic activities. The size and shape of the hymen vary from one woman to another and as some may feel pain and shed blood on their first sexual engagement, some others won’t.
Generally, the hymen is partially closed and during puberty, the hole in the hymen helps to release menstrual blood and when one engages in sex, this hymen is completely opened/ruptured.