Hymenoplasty and Repair

The hymen, named after the ancient Greek god of marriage and weddings, Hymenaeus, is a membranous fold of tissue located approximately 2-3 cm inside the entrance of the female external genitalia, measuring about 2-3 mm in thickness. This tissue, which can take various forms, is usually found at the entrance of the vagina, shaped like a crescent, and surrounded by fine capillaries.

Despite being referred to as a "membrane," the hymen is not actually a membrane. Between the 7th and 12th weeks of pregnancy, the development of the external genitalia is observed in the embryo. During this period, the genital walls of the embryo fuse and form the scrotum in males, while in females, these walls separate to form the small (labia minora) and large (labia majora) outer lips.

However, the membranous tissue remaining in the middle after the separation forms what is known as the hymen. It does not have any known anatomical function. During the first sexual intercourse, this tissue either stretches and widens or tears and bleeds depending on the anatomical structure. For this reason, in many cultures, the hymen is associated with a woman's virginity.

The hymen being damaged is often seen as proof of a woman losing her virginity. However, it is not possible to determine a woman's virginity or whether she has had previous sexual intercourse by examining the hymen in women or post-pubescent girls.

The structure and shape of the hymen are determined during the embryonic stage, and 5 out of every 100 women are born with a damaged hymen. Of these 5 women, 1 is born without a hymen, while the remaining 4 are born with an incomplete hymen. Research indicates that nearly half of women do not experience bleeding during their first sexual intercourse.