Dear ChicaSexy9,

Not at all! Some women experience pain the first time they have vaginal intercourse, and others do not. Both experiences are common.

A woman may experience pain the first time she has intercourse if her hymen hasn't been stretched open. The hymen is a thin membrane that stretches across a woman's vaginal opening. However, many women are born with very little hymenal tissue, and the hymens of others are stretched open during sports or other activities, such as horseback or bicycle riding.

Women who have hymenal tissue obstructing the opening to the vagina can prepare for their first intercourse by slowly stretching the hymen open during masturbation. In rare cases, women who have very thick hymens may need to seek medical assistance to remove the obstruction.

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.