Hymenoplasty: What Is The Hymen And Why Restore It?

Let’s start with a little lesson on vaginal anatomy.

The hymen is an oval shaped membrane that covers the vaginal opening. It can vary greatly in size and appearance, and clinically speaking it serves no real biological purpose. At a certain point, the hymen tissue will tear or stretch from any number of causes, but it’s commonly associated with intercourse. Some patients want to restore the membrane to its original state, and that process is known as a hymenoplasty.

While a torn or stretched hymen can occur from various nonsexual activities, and while sexual activity does not necessarily always result in a noticeable change to the hymen, some women may desire to repair or reconstruct their hymen for social, cultural, or psychological reasons.

Hymen reconstruction surgery, another term for hymenoplasty, is often sought out by individuals who are seeking to regain something they feel as though they lost. For example, women whose hymens were damaged in an act of sexual assault may see restoring the membrane as a way to heal, to reclaim something they feel was taken from them so that they have the opportunity to give it away, symbolically, on their own terms.

Hymenoplasty Procedure: What to Expect

The hymenoplasty is a simple procedure that takes approximately one hour and is completed in our office. We begin the procedure by having you take some oral medication to help you relax. This medication can cause some disorientation, so you will need a friend or family member to bring you to/from your visit. We then thoroughly clean the vaginal tissue with an antiseptic solution. 

Once this is completed, we will inject the tissue with a numbing agent so that you do not feel anything during the procedure (however, this injection can sting initially). The hymenal remnants are identified and then sutured together to restore the integrity and continuity of the hymen. You may have some mild discomfort after the surgery that requires a mild narcotic or over the counter pain relievers.  

After the procedure is complete, we will send you home to rest. We typically suggest that you take a few days off of work to allow for rest and recovery. We will follow up with you for a period of 12 weeks after your surgery. You will require 6 weeks of vaginal rest (nothing inside the vagina) post-operatively, otherwise activity restrictions are minimal. 

If you are interested in the procedure or have any questions, please contact us to schedule a consultation.