Dear ashleyj03,

A "cherry" usually refers to a girl's hymen. 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.

"Popping the cherry" usually refers to the stretching or tearing of the hymen during first vaginal intercourse, which may lead to some bleeding. But not every young woman bleeds the first time she has vaginal intercourse. Some women bleed a lot, some bleed a little, and others don't bleed at all.

Hymens come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some girls may appear to have no hymen at all and may not bleed. This is perfectly normal! A woman's hymen can also stretch or tear during insertive masturbation, as well as during sports and other non-sexual activities.

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.