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What Is the Hymen?

Gynecologist Dr. Korkut Arslan

What Is the Hymen?

The Latin name for the hymen is “HYMEN,” which is also the name of the god of marriage in Greek mythology. Structurally, the hymen is a thin membrane with a central opening, located about 1–1.5 cm behind the labia minora at the entrance of the vagina. The outer side of the hymen resembles skin in texture, while the inner side facing the vagina is more mucosal.

What Is the Hymen?

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In the following sections of this page, you can find the topics listed below. Simply tap on any heading to quickly access the relevant section.

  • What Is the Function of the Hymen?
  • What Are the Types of Hymens?
  • How Does the Hymen Tear?
  • Is Hymenal Bleeding Proof of Virginity?

Will There Be Bleeding Again After Hymen Repair?

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What Is the Function of the Hymen?

The hymen allows the drainage of vaginal secretions and menstrual blood through its central opening. From an anatomical and physiological perspective, the hymen does not have any significant known function. It is thought to act as a protective barrier between the external environment and the vagina.

What Is the Function of the Hymen?

What Are the Types of Hymens?

The hymen's structure can vary from person to person. The most commonly seen type is the annular (ring-shaped) hymen, found in approximately 90% of individuals. Other frequently seen types include:

  • Semilunar (crescent-shaped) or eccentric hymen
  • Septate hymen with a vertical band of tissue in the center
  • Cribriform hymen with multiple small openings (sieve-like)
  • Imperforate hymen with no opening at all
What Are the Types of Hymens?

How Does the Hymen Tear?

The hymen usually tears during sexual intercourse, but it can also be torn due to trauma, accidents, or, in rare cases, during physical activities like sports. While the vagina itself is elastic and can expand significantly—as seen during childbirth when a baby's 10 cm head passes through—the hymen does not have such elasticity (except in elastic hymen types). When something enters the vagina, the hymen tears and may cause bleeding.

How Does the Hymen Tear?

Is Hymenal Bleeding Proof of Virginity?

In many parts of our society, due to traditional upbringing, men may struggle to accept the idea that their future spouse could have had previous sexual experiences.

Is Hymenal Bleeding Proof of Virginity?

As a result, both men and sometimes their families place significant importance on the presence of bleeding during the first sexual encounter, considering it a symbol of virginity. If bleeding occurs, it is seen as proof of the woman’s virginity; if it does not, it is assumed she had previous sexual relations.

However, it's important to understand that the absence of bleeding during intercourse does not definitively prove prior sexual activity. Some women are born with an elastic hymen or a hymen with limited blood supply, and thus may not bleed during their first intercourse.

Therefore, even if a woman has her first sexual experience on her wedding night, bleeding may not occur. This means that considering hymenal bleeding as a guaranteed indicator of virginity is not a completely accurate approach.

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frequently asked questions

Yes, the hymen can be repaired using two different methods called temporary hymen repair and permanent hymen repair. After hymen repair performed with either method, bleeding will occur during the first sexual intercourse as the penis forces the vaginal entrance, causing the repaired area to tear.
Any woman over the age of 18 who has had sexual intercourse that she did not consent to or later regretted can voluntarily undergo hymen repair.
Bleeding will definitely occur with hymen repair performed by an experienced specialist physician. After thousands of hymen repair surgeries performed by Gyn. Op. Dr. Korkut Arslan to date, all his patients experienced bleeding during intercourse. Choosing the right doctor is therefore very important for ensuring bleeding occurs during intercourse.
Permanent hymen repair performed with the flap technique cannot be detected by the naked eye or any medical imaging method (MRI, ultrasound, etc.), but it can be understood if examined by a specialist doctor.
Hymen repair is not something that can be felt during intercourse, and since it cannot be seen visually either, your partner will not notice this situation.
In the temporary method, stitches are placed in the area where the hymen was torn during previous sexual intercourse. The aim here is to ensure that the stitches tear and cause bleeding when forced by the penis during the subsequent sexual intercourse. This method should be performed a few days before the planned intercourse, and utmost care must be taken to ensure the stitches do not open until intercourse occurs. In the permanent method, the area where the hymen is located is reconstructed using an aesthetic surgery technique. There is no need to plan according to the timing of the subsequent intercourse; bleeding will occur regardless of how long after the procedure intercourse takes place.
With the latest generation laser device used for hymen repair, the operation time is shortened, the treated area heals faster, and complications such as infection, pain, etc., that may occur after the operation are minimized. Therefore, the patient's comfort during and after the procedure is at the highest possible level. Additionally, due to the high quality of the procedure performed with laser, the success rate in achieving the expected result is also very high.
Yes, with state-of-the-art laser devices, both hymen repair and vaginal tightening can be performed in the same session. Even with temporary hymen repair, which can only be done a few days before the desired intercourse for bleeding, vaginal tightening can now be performed in the same session. If surgical vaginal tightening is performed during temporary hymen repair, and considering the procedure needs to be done just a few days before intercourse, this short period will not be sufficient for the surgically tightened area to heal and the stitches to dissolve. As a result, during intercourse, your partner will feel the stitches, and there will be a risk of excessive bleeding. Therefore, while vaginal tightening was not performed during temporary hymen repair before laser technology, with today's laser technology, tightening can be done without surgical intervention during temporary hymen repair in a 15-20 minute application, and our patients can immediately return to their normal daily lives.
Temporary hymen repair takes 10-15 minutes, while permanent hymen repair takes 15-20 minutes. If the procedure is performed with a laser, these times are slightly reduced for both methods.
Hymen repair can be performed by gynecologist surgeons and plastic surgeons. Hygienic and sterile office conditions are sufficient for the operation.
Local anesthesia is sufficient during hymen repair surgery to ensure the patient does not feel pain and is comfortable. General anesthesia can also be preferred depending on preference or need.
The patient can return to daily life immediately after hymen repair. A minimal stinging and pain sensation may occur for a short period after the procedure, for which taking a pain reliever will be sufficient. The main point to consider here is that the doctor's recommendations must be followed during the one-week period to achieve the expected result from the operation.
During the first week after the operation, the patient must adhere to the care recommended by the physician. During this period, prescribed medications should be used regularly, and the explained dressing should also be applied regularly. Also, during this one-week period, the patient should not swim in pools or the sea, and should avoid sports and movements that require excessive leg spreading.
Hymen repair is ultimately a surgical operation, and it is natural for complications such as mild bleeding, infection, and pain, which are likely in such operations, to occur. However, these complications are not severe enough to affect the patient's daily life and comfort. If the medications recommended by the physician are used regularly and the suggested care is followed, no problems will be experienced.

More Content

What is Hymen Repair
What is Hymen Repair

Hymen repair, also called hymenorrhaphy or hymenoplasty, is one of the most common genital surgery procedures that we perform. Hymen repair is basically a surgical procedure intended to enable a women, who has lost her virginity, to tear and bleed again during her first intercourse after surgery, like a virgin. Bleeding during intercourse in a woman who has undergone hymen repair is the same as the bleeding that occurs in a virgin during her first intercourse. No difference is observed in terms of the color, amount and characteristics of the bleeding. Normally, there is no standard for the bleeding that occurs as a result of the first rupture of the hymen in a virgin woman. In some women, the bleeding may be in the form of a small amount of pinkish drops, while in some others it may be in the form of an excessive amount of red bleeding.

What is Hymen Repair Performed?
What is Hymen Repair Performed?

Hymen repair can be performed with two different methods called temporary and permanent methods. The most obvious difference between these two methods is that operations with the temporary method should be performed at most 7-10 days before the date of the first intercourse where bleeding is wanted, while operations with the permanent hymen repair can be performed at any time regardless of the date of the first intercourse where bleeding is wanted. Both methods can be performed under local anesthesia in a hygienic and sterile doctor's office setting, with no need for a hospital environment.

Hymen Repair (Hymenoplasty) Techniques
Hymen Repair (Hymenoplasty) Techniques

Hymen repair methods are named according to two techniques called temporary hymen repair and permanent hymen repair. In temporary hymen repair, the hymen can be surgically repaired 1 to 2 days before marriage. The other which we call the permanent hymen repair method is used by performing the flap taking technique. The temporary method is used 1 to 2 days before marriage, with intent to suture the torn leaves of the hymen to one another, in such a way as to ensure that the hymen will bleed during the first intercourse after the operation. With the permanent method, a skin flap is taken from lower vaginal wall, and it is then used to reconstruct the hymen. The reconstructed hymen is torn and bleeds during the first intercourse after the operation. If the patient has experienced a miscarriage, birth or abortion before, the vaginal tightening procedure can be performed in conjunction with the permanent hymen repair.

Permanent Hymen Repair
Permanent Hymen Repair

Permanent hymen repair is a surgical procedure performed with a technique called reconstruction, regardless of when you had your first sexual intercourse, how many times you have had sexual intercourse, whether you have had abortion, miscarriage or childbirth. The flap in this procedure is the tissue taken from the vaginal wall. Since the hymen is reconstructed using this tissue, permanent hymen repair is also called hymenoplasy with flap technique. During sexual intercourse, the tissues are torn and bleeding occurs when the male genitalia penetrates through this area reconstructed with the flap technique. The main purpose of this type of procedures is to ensure that bleeding occurs during sexual intercourse.

Temporary Hymen Repair
Temporary Hymen Repair

Temporary hymen repair is the reconstruction of the remaining tissues in the vagina after the rupture of the hymen. This method involves unnoticeable, invisible sutures placed in the vagina. After a hymen repair performed with this method, bleeding occurs during the intercourse scheduled by the patient. If hymen reconstruction will be performed with this method, it should be performed one or two days before the time of the sexual intercourse, on average. If scheduled intercourse is experienced after a few days, bleeding will not occur as a result of the pressure created by the penis, because the area treated with the temporary method will be in the healing process.

Laser Hymenoplasty
Laser Hymenoplasty

Laser devices have started being widely used in medicine as a result of the rapid development of technology. With the new generation devices we use, laser hymenoplasty can now be performed faster, it causes less complications, and allows for faster postoperative healing and, in direct proportion to this, higher patient satisfaction. Now, with the use of laser, we can perform temporary hymen repair in conjunction with vaginal tightening. Normally, vaginal tightening in combination with temporary hymen repair is not possible because the sutures cannot dissolve in a short time, so they can be noticed during intercourse and cause excessive bleeding. However, with the help of the new generation laser device, we can now tighten the vagina in such a short time of 20 minutes without incisions or sutures. This innovation allows for temporary hymen surgery to be performed in combination with the vaginal tightening procedure in the same session.

Prices of Hymen Repair
Prices of Hymen Repair

Physicians cannot publicly give information about the prices of health services, instead of communicating directly with their patients. As required by the relevant laws and medical ethics, we do not provide publicly available information about the prices of hymen repair on our website. Our patients, who are curious about the prices of hymen repair, can ask their questions at any time by contacting us using our contact information or the free consultation feature on our website. Although we cannot publicly share information about the prices of hymen repair, we can say that factors such as the method of hymen repair, whether the procedure will involve the use of laser, and the type of anesthesia (local or general anesthesia) preferred by the patient affect the prices. Using laser and preferring general anesthesia cause a slight increase in the prices of hymen repair. In addition, a more affordable price can be determined for a vaginal tightening operation to be performed in conjunction with hymen repair in the same session, compared to the price of two procedures that will be performed separately as hymen repair + laser vaginal tightening.

Why Is Hymenoplasty Performed?
Why Is Hymenoplasty Performed?

Women who have previously had sexual intercourse or who naturally have a flexible hymen often choose hymenoplasty due to societal or male pressure. If the hymen has been torn due to prior intercourse or is too flexible to bleed during the first sexual experience, the area just inside the vaginal entrance where the hymen is located is reconstructed using a three-layer flap technique. This allows the natural, vascular hymenal tissue to be recreated. As a result, during the first sexual intercourse after the operation—regardless of when it occurs—the reconstructed vascular tissue tears just like an original hymen would, resulting in bleeding that mimics natural hymenal bleeding.

Choosing the Right Doctor for Hymenoplasty
Choosing the Right Doctor for Hymenoplasty

Women who were previously forced into unwanted sexual intercourse or regret a past relationship may consider hymenoplasty when they are about to get married. They often fear that their partner or his family may not accept their sexual history, which could lead to psychological pressure, relationship loss, or even threats to their safety. To avoid these consequences, they seek hymenoplasty. For the procedure to fulfill its purpose, there must be bleeding during the first intercourse after the operation; otherwise, the surgery may be deemed unsuccessful. That is why choosing the right doctor for hymenoplasty is crucial.

Hymenoplasty Reviews
Hymenoplasty Reviews

Those considering hymenoplasty often look for reviews and personal experiences online. They want to learn how others chose their doctors, what kind of information they gathered, and whether the procedure resulted in the expected bleeding. Many platforms feature such reviews. We also share anonymous feedback from our patients—who have undergone hymenoplasty with us over the past 10+ years—on our website. These include their thoughts about us, whether bleeding occurred post-surgery, and their messages of appreciation. We also archive Q&A sessions between our patients and doctors, which are published anonymously to help others researching this topic. Read Patient Reviews

WHAT IS A HYMEN EXAMINATION?
WHAT IS A HYMEN EXAMINATION?

The hymen is a membrane with a central opening, located about 1–1.5 cm behind the labia minora, right at the entrance of the vagina. Its structure varies from person to person. The most common type is the annular (ring-shaped) hymen, seen in approximately 90% of individuals.

Hymen Removal Surgery
Hymen Removal Surgery

In some rare cases, the hymen may have an abnormally thick, rigid, or imperforate (completely closed) structure. This can cause pain, discomfort, or make it difficult or impossible for a woman to engage in sexual intercourse.

Watch Hymenoplasty Videos
Watch Hymenoplasty Videos

People who want to learn more about hymenoplasty often look for videos showing how the surgery is performed. Due to concerns that such content might disturb younger viewers or even some adults, we do not publish actual surgical footage on our website. However, we share educational videos where our doctors explain the procedure, along with animation-based visuals to help viewers understand the surgery. You can watch the informative videos below to learn more about hymenoplasty.

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Feel Free To Consult Our Doctor

GYN SGN Dr. Korkut Arslan

GYN SGN Dr. Korkut Arslan

7/24 Call Now7/24 Whatsapp
GYN Surgeon Dr.

GYN Surgeon Dr.

7/24 Call Now7/24 Whatsapp

My assistants are currently online and ready to assist you with anything you need.

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Youtube | How Is Bleeding Achieved After Hymenoplasty?

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