#HealthBytes: 5 common myths around virginity, busted!
Virginity is often talked about in a quite simplified manner. People would call a person who's never had penetrative-sex, a virgin, and a 'non-virgin' if otherwise. However, the concept of virginity is pretty complicated and subjective. And the wide range of ideas about virginity, coupled with poor sex-education have given birth to innumerable misconceptions about it. Here's busting 5 common myths about virginity.
Myth #1: Your first-time will essentially be painful and bloody
The myth says that when a woman has penetrative sex for the first time, her hymen shall break, which will lead to pain and bleeding. However, truth be told, many women don't go through pain or bleeding of the hymen on their first time, since the hymen is quite stretchy. Thus, one need not worry about pain or bleeding on their first time.
Myth #2: A gynaecologist can tell whether you're a virgin
It is commonly believed by women that a health care professional can, by examining their hymen, differentiate between a virgin and a non-virgin. However, this is far from truth, as the hymen is a stretchy part, and one's virginity-status hardly makes an impact on it.
Myth #3: Any kind of penetration takes away your virginity
Many women often end up believing that any kind of penetration, including that of tampons, will take away their virginity. However, virginity is about having or not having the first 'sexual experience', which is a wildly subjective topic. Any kind of vaginal insertion doesn't count because that won't equal a sexual encounter. So, the answer is no- you don't lose virginity by using tampons.
Myth #4: Your sexual partner can tell your status
Many women often worry too much whether their partner can tell if they're a virgin or not. So, to clear the air here, refer to points one and two- your hymen doesn't reveal your virginity status, and even professional medical experts can't tell if you're a virgin or not. However, sharing your sexual history with your partner will help build trust and improve intimacy.
Myth #5: After your first-time, sex is no big deal
The modern society's big-time obsession with virginity suggests that once a person has had sex, it's no longer a 'big deal' for them. However, it is important to understand that every time you have sex- it should (ideally) be a conscious and a well thought-up decision. Someone having sex once doesn't mean they're up for it all the time or with anyone.
