The opening of the vagina, called the introitus (in-TROH-i-tus), is located between the urinary opening and the anus. Partially covering the introitus is a fold of tissue called the hymen (HIGH-men), which is typically present at birth and usually remains intact until initial intercourse. The hymen opening is usually large enough to insert tampons. Occasionally, this tissue is too thick to break easily during intercourse; a medical practitioner might then be needed to make a minor incision. In rare cases an imperforate hymen, tissue that completely seals the vaginal opening, causes menstrual flow to collect inside the vagina. When this condition is discovered, a medical practitioner can open the hymen with an incision. Although it is rare, it is possible for a woman to become pregnant even if her hymen is still intact and she has not experienced penile penetration. If semen is placed on the labia minora, the sperm can swim into the vagina. Unless pregnancy is desired, sexual play involving rubbing the penis and vulva together without contraception should be avoided.
Although the hymen can protect the vaginal tissues early in life, it has no other known function. Nevertheless, many societies, including our own, have placed great significance on its presence or absence (Blank, 2007). Euphemisms such as cherry or maidenhead have been used to describe the hymen. In our society and many others, people have long believed that a woman’s virginity can be proved by the pain and bleeding that can occur with initial coitus, or "deflowering." At different times in various cultures, bloodstained wedding-night bedsheets were seen as proof that the groom had wed "intact goods" and that the marriage had been consummated. Currently, some Muslim families or future husbands insist on a pelvic exam to prove the woman’s virginity prior to marriage (Manier, 2008; Sciolino & Mekhennet, 2008b). Some women, particularly women from the Middle East who have immigrated to Europe and North America and later marry men from the Middle East, undergo hymenalplasty, surgical reconstruction of the hymen, to conceal the loss of their virginity (Essen et al., 2010; Sciolino & Mekhennet, 2008a).
Although pain or bleeding sometimes occurs during initial coitus, the hymen can be partial, flexible, or thin enough for no discomfort or bleeding to occur; it may even remain intact after intercourse. If a woman manually stretches her hymen before initial intercourse, she may be able to minimize the discomfort that sometimes occurs. To do this, first insert a lubricated finger (using saliva or a water-soluble sterile lubricant) into the vaginal opening and press downward toward the anus until you feel some stretching. After a few seconds, release the pressure and relax. Repeat this step several times. Next, insert two fingers into the vagina and stretch the sides of the vagina by opening the fingers. Repeat the downward stretching with two fingers as well.