Dear 12341234,

The hymen is a thin, fleshy tissue that stretches across part of the opening of the vagina. It may look or feel like a little flap of skin. A girl can't always tell if her hymen is intact by looking or feeling for it. While some girls are born with a lot of hymenal tissue, others are born with so little hymenal tissue that they appear to have no hymen.

Some girls stretch open their hymens the first time they have vaginal intercourse, but other girls stretch open their hymens in other ways — like using tampons, insertive masturbation, riding a bicycle, or doing gymnastics.

The hymen does not affect whether or not a girl can have an orgasm. In fact, most women experience orgasm through clitoral stimulation rather than through vaginal penetration.

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.