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Nokukhanya Moyo, Sunday News Reporter
CAN the use of a tampon affect your virginity? This is a question that has been asked for many years. This week I seek to explore some of the myths around the use of the tampon.
This myth is from the belief that, once the hymen is broken, a girl is no longer a virgin. I do not believe this is true. A hymen is a thin membrane of tissue that covers the inside opening of a vagina.
The hymen can be broken by everyday activities such as riding a bike, and yes, tampon use. Neither of which have anything to do with sex, intercourse or virginity. When it comes to your monthly cycle, choose an option you are comfortable with, whether pad or tampon.
Losing your virginity is when you choose to have sex for the first time. So, based on the definition of virginity, using a tampon will not affect it. There’s this misconception about tampons being more invasive than they really are. In my opinion, tampon use will not affect your virginity.
Any girl who has her period can use a tampon. Tampons work just as well for girls who are virgins as they do for girls who have had sex. And even though using a tampon can occasionally cause a girl’s hymen to stretch or tear, it does not cause a girl to lose her virginity.
Whether a girl decides to use a tampon or a pad is completely up to her. A lot of girls who are active, particularly girls who swim want to use tampons so they don’t miss out on their favourite sport.
It may take some practice putting in a tampon for the first time. Some girls find that using a slender-size, applicator style tampon especially one with a rounded top makes it easier at first.
Follow the step by step instructions in the box. It also helps to try a tampon for the first time on a day when your period flow is heaviest. That way the tampon should slip in easily.
Many virgins don’t have intact hymens and some women aren’t born with hymens at all. They may stretch or tear due to sexual activity, but it may also occur during non-sexual physical activities like dancing. Sometimes women and girls do not even notice when the hymen breaks.
Using a tampon for the first time can seem unnerving, but with a little know how and practice, using them can be safe and easy regardless of whether you have had sex before or not.
The hymen in newborn girls is thick and this naturally thins and opens up over the years. This membrane does not usually cover the entire opening of the vagina.
By the time a girl reaches puberty, there is often enough space to allow menstrual blood to pass. If the hymen completely covered the vagina, menstruation would not be possible.
In most women, by the time she reaches adolescence, the hymen tissue is thin enough to allow for safe use of tampons.
Where to begin? Try the thinnest tampon you can find, they may be labelled on the box as “slender” or “slim.” When you’re ready to use the tampon, try to relax as much as possible. Easier said than done to be sure, but staying relaxed prevents the vaginal muscles from tightening and that can make insertion more difficult. Inserting a tampon is easiest when the menstrual flow is medium to heavy because it lubricates the process. Once you have made your purchase and have done your best to relax, head on over to the restroom and insert a tampon.
@nonozar3
Online Reporter