Patient's question:
I got married last year. Lately, I've been experiencing lower abdominal pain, especially during my period. I'm very worried it might affect fertility, and I also feel extremely cold and fear the cold. Is it very painful for a girl the first time?Doctor's answer:
The hymen is a thin membrane covering the external vaginal opening, with a central hole, located at the boundary between the vagina and the vaginal vestibule. The front and back surfaces of the membrane are pink and moist. In adolescents, the hymen is smaller and thicker. As a woman's body matures, the hymen gradually becomes larger and thinner, with considerable elasticity. In adult women, the hymen is about 1 to 2 millimeters thick, containing connective tissue, small blood vessels, and nerve endings. At the center of the hymen, there is a small hole with a diameter of 1 to 1.5 centimeters, medically known as the "hymen aperture," through which menstruation is expelled from the body. The shape of this hole varies from person to person. The hymen is a delicate organ and can easily tear during sexual intercourse, though it does not always cause significant pain. However, the tearing of the hymen usually results in vaginal bleeding.