Menstrual cups do not determine virginity, health expert says

Using a menstrual cup may stretch the hymen and, in some cases, cause a small tear, but this does not mean that a woman has lost her virginity, certified holistic sex educator and public health professional Elizabeth Adewale said. Speaking to Premium Times’ PT Health Watch, Adewale said concerns about menstrual cups often arise from misconceptions about the hymen and the medical meaning of virginity. She described the hymen as a thin, elastic fold of tissue around the vaginal opening that varies in shape, thickness and elasticity.

She said the hymen can change for reasons unrelated to sexual intercourse, including cycling, gymnastics and other physical activity. Some women may have little hymenal tissue, while in others it may be difficult to see. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says the hymen can be stretched or torn through tampon use, sports activities or medical procedures.

It also says the presence or absence of the hymen does not indicate virginity. The World Health Organisation similarly says no scientific or clinical examination can prove whether a woman or girl has had vaginal intercourse. Adewale also rejected the belief that menstrual cups permanently loosen the vagina.

She said the vagina is an elastic, muscular canal that can relax, expand and contract, and that inserting or removing a cup does not permanently stretch it. Insertion can nevertheless be painful or difficult for some women, including those with vaginismus, which involves involuntary tightening of muscles at the vaginal opening. Adewale advised first-time users to relax, wash their hands, clean the cup, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and stop if they experience significant pain.

She said using a menstrual cup remained a personal choice.