Short essay
Q1. What are the various types of Hymen? Who is a false Virgin?
Ans. Types of Hymen
• Annular: Ring-shaped hymen membrane is present around vaginal opening.
• Semilunar/crescentic: Semilunar-shaped hymen membrane is present at the vaginal
opening.
• Infundibuliform: Funnel-shaped hymen membrane.
• Septate: Hymen membrane forms a bridge (septum) across the vaginal opening.
• Cribriform: Hymen membrane with many small openings.
• Vertical: A vertical opening is present in the hymen membrane.
• Infantile: Slit-like opening is present in the middle of hymen membrane.
• Imperforate: No opening is present in the hymen membrane. In fact, needs surgical
opening for menstrual flow of blood.
• Fimbriate: Margins of hymen membrane is irregular and shows multiple notches. It has to
be differentiated with vaginal tears. Here, the notches are symmetrical, placed anteriorly,
covered by mucous membrane and they do not extend up to vaginal wall.
False virgin
False virgin is a female who has experienced Sexual intercourse, but retains an intact
hymen.
In few females, the hymen may remain intact Even after multiple acts of coitus; this is due
to Elastic, thick, tough, fleshy or lose hymen.
Q2. Virginity ?
Ans. • Virginity is a state of a female who has not Experienced sexual intercourse even
once.
• Virginity is otherwise called as “chastity” or “virgo intacta”.
• Defloration means loss of virginity, which Means the female has experienced sexual
Intercourse atleast once.
• The question of virginity may arise in Situations like rape, nullity of marriage and Divorce
Signs of virginity
• Breasts are hemispherical, firm and rounded. Nipples are small with pinkish areola.
• Labia majora appears thick, firm and rounded; fleshy and elastic. Lies in close opposition
to Each other and hence the labia minora and the Vaginal orifice are not visible externally.
• Labia minora is soft and small in size; pink In color and sensitive to touch and not visible
Externally, since it is completely covered by Labia majora.
• The vagina is narrow and tight; triangular in Cross-section. Rugosity is more prominent,
its Walls can be approximated,
• the vaginal canal Is not roomy and the vaginal orifice remains Closed.
• The orifice admits only the tip of the Little finger and is painful.
• The hymen, posterior Commissure, fossa navicularis and fourchette Will be intact in
virgins.
Q3. Virginity and defloration ?
Ans.
Virgin Woman vs. Deflorated Woman
• Breast
• Virgin: Hemispherical, firm, rounded. Nipples small, pinkish. Areola pink.
• Deflorated: Enlarged, less firm, slightly pendulous. Nipples large, raised. Areola dark
brown/black.
• Labia Majora
• Virgin: Thick, firm, fleshy, elastic, rounded. Lie in opposition, labia minora not visible.
Closes vaginal orifice.
• Deflorated: Lax, not rounded, dark. Not in opposition, labia minora exposed. Gap present,
vaginal orifice may be visible.
• Labia Minora
• Virgin: Soft, small, pink, sensitive, covered by labia majora. Depression between
fourchette and vaginal orifice. Vaginal orifice closed.
• Deflorated: Enlarged, dark/blackened, pigmented. Project outside labia majora,
depression/folds lost. Vaginal orifice visible.
• Vagina
• Virgin: Narrow, tight, triangular cross-section. Rugosity present, sensitive. Walls
approximated, not capacious.
• Deflorated: Widened, loose, oval/rounded cross-section. Rugosity decreased/lost, less
sensitive. Walls separated, roomy.
• Vestibule
• Virgin: Admits tip of little finger, painful.
• Deflorated: Admits more than 2 fingers without pain.
• Posterior Commissure
• Virgin: Intact.
• Deflorated: Loose, not prominent due to repeated intercourse.
• Fossa Navicularis
• Virgin: Closed/intact.
• Deflorated: Disappears.
• Fourchette
• Virgin: Intact.
• Deflorated: Ruptured, may have old healed tear/scarring.
• Hymen
• Virgin: Intact.
• Deflorated: Ruptured, only remnants/tags may remain after multiple acts of coitus.
Q4. Hymen and its significance in medico-legal cases ?
Ans. Carunculae Hymenales: Carunculae Myrtiformis
• Presence of an intact hymen at the time Of marriage is considered to be a proof of
Virginity by the society and the law.
• Presence of an intact hymen is presumed to Be a sign of virginity, but is not an absolute
Proof (false virgin). Similarly, a ruptured Hymen may not necessarily be due to an act Of
coitus
Medicolegal Importance of Virginity
• Nullity of marriage:(S-12 Hindu Marriage Act) If the woman was pregnant at the time of
Marriage or the male was already married/Impotent, then the marriage is said to be Null.
• Divorce: (S-13 Hindu Marriage Act) If either of the couple is proved to have Committed
the offence of adultery, then it is a Ground for divorce.
• Carunculae Hymenales
Multiple ruptures of hymen with presence of Tags of the hymenal tissue on the margins. It Is
seen in woman habituated to sexual intercourse.
• Carunculae Myrtiformis
In this condition, hymen is almost abolished, With remnants of hymenal tissues attached
to The margins, as a thick rim of residual tissue.
This is seen after pregnancy and delivery.
