Dear cutiexoxo,

Some girls don't experience pain the first time they have intercourse and others do. Everyone is different. A girl may bleed if her hymen has not yet been stretched open. Some girls stretch their hymens before intercourse during sports or other activities, such as horseback and bicycle riding or through insertive masturbation.

The hymen is a thin skin that stretches across the opening of the vagina. There is usually an opening in it to let menstrual flow out of the body. Some women bleed the first time they have vaginal intercourse because the hymen is being stretched open.

Different things can cause pain during intercourse. Sometimes the hymenal opening is not stretched open enough or the woman has a vaginal infection, which needs to be treated. Other times pain indicates that the woman isn't sexually aroused enough and the vaginal entrance is not lubricated enough for penetration. Having anxiety about sex may also make sex more painful and may be your body's way of telling you "I'm not ready" or "I don't want to have sex with this person."

If women do feel pain, it is important for them to talk to their partners about it and stop having vaginal intercourse until they can enjoy it without pain.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.