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The Truth About Hymen Regrowth

by Autumn Jones

Of all the mysteries that surround the female anatomy, among the most head-scratching of inquiries is that about the hymen. Specifically, can your hymen regrow? The obsession with this tiny piece to the lady parts puzzle is an ongoing topic of conversation, fraught with confusion and misinformation. So it's time to separate the truth from the facts when it comes to this anatomical anomaly.

The purpose of the hymen is a a bit of a medical mystery. As Psychology Today explained, " female babies are born with membranes surrounding their vaginal openings." As girls grow and experience puberty, the membrane thins out and eventually wears away. Sometimes the hymen can be "broken" or torn due things to things such as sports or intercourse, as the website for Our Bodies Ourselves pointed out. Part of what makes discussions about the hymen so controversial, is the fact that it is usually impossible to tell why the hymen is no longer intact. Typically, the only connection comes from bleeding after the vagina has come in contact with something that could cause the trauma of a tear, such as a bicycle seat, finger, tampon, or penis. But the question of regrowth after the hymen has torn is one that does have a clear answer.

Since the membrane stretches to the point of tearing (or "popping" as it has also been called), the question has been raised about the possibility of those tissues regenerating and forming a Hymen 2.0. However, this information is merely a rumor and has no medical validity. According to Planned Parenthood, once it has been stretched open, a hymen cannot grow back. This myth may have started when some research revealed that the hymen was able to heal itself in girls who had suffered hymenal injuries, according to Psychology Today. However, it's important to note that there is a difference between the healing of bodily tissue and the regrowing of a hymen.

Although little is known about why females even have a hymen in the first place, one thing is for sure: once it's gone, it's gone for good.