Losing your virginity is a very big deal and you will always remember your first sexual encounter. According to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, ʺabout half of high school students have ever had intercourse and the average age when people start having sex is about age 17.ʺ
Before the magical moment happens, you may have some lingering questions about your body and the area ʺdown south.ʺ
There are all kinds of urban legends and myths about your personal girl cave. Here are some facts about a virgin vagina:
• Three to seven inches is the average length of your vagina.
• The vagina is a hollow muscular tube.
• A vagina can stretch during intercourse as well as childbirth.
• You may experience pleasurable pain during first-time vaginal intercourse.
• First-time pain is usually due to the breaking of the hymen.
According to the Center for Young Women's Health, Children's Hospital Boston, ʺ[the hymen is] a thin membrane that surrounds the opening to the vagina. Hymens can come in different shapes. The most common hymen in young girls is shaped like a half moon. This shape allows menstrual blood to flow out of a girl's vagina.ʺ
During first-time intercourse, the hymen is stretched and broken. This causes the minor pain and releases about a teaspoon of blood. Also, a hymen can stretch or tear from participating in active sports like gymnastics or horse riding.
The Planned Parenthood website stated, ʺThe penis doesn’t have to break through [the hymen], it just has to slip into the vagina. If the girl is tense, the muscles of the vagina can feel tight. If that happens, pushing hard is the last thing you should be doing. The vaginal tissue is very tender and can be easily damaged, which can be very painful for the girl.ʺ
According to Dummies.com: The Essentials of Understanding What Sex Is, ʺThe walls of the vagina have several layers: the mucosa, which secretes various fluids; a muscular layer; and connective tissue. Beneath the vagina, on the pelvic floor, are other muscles that are responsible for keeping the vagina elevated, tight, and firm.ʺ
The website also stated ʺduring intercourse, the vagina stretches to accommodate the penis. It also becomes lubricated, or slippery, by the passage of fluids through the vaginal walls. This fluid has another function besides making it easier for the penis to slide in and out of the vagina. It also changes the chemical nature of the vagina, making it more alkaline and less acidic — an environment that proves more hospitable to sperm.ʺ
According to Dr. Vanessa Cullins of Planned Parenthood, "during different times the vagina may be looser than other times." There are several reasons why the vagina is looser. These include:
• Women's vaginas are less elastic when they are not sexually aroused.
• Hormonal shifts during a woman's menstrual cycle affect vaginal secretions and may affect vaginal elasticity.
• Certain drugs, such as antihistamines or marijuana, may make the walls of the vagina feel dry so they seem tighter.
• A woman's vagina may feel tighter or looser in different positions for intercourse.
The website lovematters.com offers these ten tips about first time sex. These are in no particular order:
• Use a condom
• Start when you are ready
• Talk with your partner
• Listen to your feelings
• Do it with someone you trust
• It’s okay to laugh
• Don’t pretend to have an orgasm
• Pay attention to your partner’s cues or tells
• Build up slowly
• Choose a nice location
References:
Myths about virginity | Love Matters. Love Matters | Love, sex and relationships. All you need to know about safe and satisfying sex. By Radio Netherlands Worldwide . Retrieved February 5, 2012, from http://www.lovematters.info/female-body/vulva/hymen-and-virginity/myths-about-virginity
Myths and Facts About Sex - Planned Parenthood. Sexual & Reproductive Health - Sex Education - Planned Parenthood. Retrieved February 5, 2012, from http://www.plannedparenthood.org/info-for-teens/sex-masturbation/myths-facts-about-sex-33825.htm
Sex Q&A. Sexual & Reproductive Health - Sex Education - Planned Parenthood. Retrieved February 5, 2012, from
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/ask-dr-cullins/cullins-sex-5209.htm
Sex for the first time | Love Matters. Love Matters | Love, sex and relationships. All you need to know about safe and satisfying sex. By Radio Netherlands Worldwide . Retrieved February 5, 2012, from http://www.lovematters.info/making-love/first-time
Strovny, D. My first time - AskMen. AskMen - Men's Online Magazine. Retrieved February 5, 2012, from http://www.askmen.com/dating/love_tip_100/117_love_tip.html
Talking to Your Kids About Sex. Planned Parenthood. Retrieved February 5, 2012, from
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/parents/talking-kids-about-sex-sexuality-37962.htm?__utma=1.73301386.1328479047.1328479047.1328479047.1&__utmb=1.47.10.1328479047&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1328479047.1.1.utmcsr=(direct)|utmccn=(direct)|utmcmd=(none)&__utmv=-&__
The Human Vagina and Other Female Anatomy - For Dummies. How-To Help and Videos - For Dummies. Retrieved February 5, 2012, from http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/the-human-vagina-and-other-female-sexual-parts.seriesId-211623.html
Types of Hymens. Center for Young Women's Health. Retrieved February 5, 2012, from
http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/hymen.html
Virginity. Planned Parenthood. Retrieved February 5, 2012, from http://www.plannedparenthood.org/info-for-teens/sex-masturbation/what-virginity-33827.htm?__utma=1.1647081133.1328476868.1328476868.1328476868.1&__utmb=1.6.10.1328476868&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1328476868.1.1.utmcsr=google|utmccn=(organic)|utmcmd=organic|utmc
What is Sex? - Planned Parenthood. Sexual & Reproductive Health - Sex Education - Planned Parenthood. Retrieved February 5, 2012, from http://www.plannedparenthood.org/info-for-teens/sex-masturbation/what-sex-33828.htm
Reviewed February 6, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith