Hymenoplasty: short-term and long-term

It happens that for one reason or another (religious, moral, etc.) a woman needs to restore her hymen. This operation is called hymenoplasty.

According to English dictionaries, the term "virgin" means "a person who has never had sexual intercourse." Virginity is a term that refers to something that is pure, untouched, and unbroken. The term "hymen" comes from the Greek God of marriage and weddings, "Hymen." According to social norms, the breaking of the hymen during intercourse is an indication that a woman has never engaged in sexual activity and is called a virgin. In many cultures around the world, an unmarried woman who is not a virgin is a subject of shame and ostracism. In such societies, many times women are imprisoned or executed (honor killing) for premarital sex. [ 1 ]

The integrity of the hymen is verified either by physical examination prior to marriage or by the occurrence of vaginal bleeding caused by rupture of the hymen during the first sanctioned sexual intercourse. In some cultures where display of evidence of the bride's virginity is common, a bridal blood sheet must be exhibited as evidence.

The term "hymenorrhaphy" or "hymenoplasty" is used for the surgical restoration of the hymen.[ 2 ] In the modern era, apart from traditional demands, women have various reasons for restoring their so-called "virginity".[ 3 ] Although it is a controversial issue in many countries around the world, hymen reconstruction is now becoming a popular trend.

Hymenoplasty, commonly referred to as “revirginization,” is a controversial procedure that pushes the medical field to meet a cultural and/or religious “need.”[ 4 ] Widely regarded as a sign of chastity and purity for unmarried girls, failure to prove virginity on the wedding night can have serious consequences for the girl. In this context, there has been a recent increase in the frequency of hymen reconstruction surgeries due to the increasing number of girls engaging in premarital sex.[ 5 ]

Hymenoplasty should not be confused with female genital mutilation - formerly known as female circumcision. Unlike circumcision, hymenoplasty is performed on women who are of marriageable age and who voluntarily undergo the surgery, so the medical, ethical and human rights arguments against FGM do not apply to its re-use, as it is another cosmetic surgery like mammoplasty etc. [ 6 ]

It was first performed over 60 years ago by an Italian gynecologist and since then, despite the fact that most men are far from strict morals on this matter, tens of thousands of European girls have resorted to this procedure.

The hymen, despite its etymological derivation, is a remnant of the Müllerian duct, which has a variable shape. The appearance can and will change depending on hormonal changes and age; the hymen can become thin and in some cases almost transparent.

The hymen is the tissue that covers the external vaginal opening; it is torn during penetrative sex. In addition to penetrative sex, the hymen can be torn during activities such as gymnastics, horseback riding, cycling, or wearing a tampon. The absence of the hymen is associated with vaginal agenesis,[ 7 ] while complete absence of the hymen is virtually nonexistent.[ 8 ]

Indications for the procedure

The only indication for the restoration of virginity is the patient's own desire to hide her previous sexual experience. Sometimes the operation is prompted by violent actions that led to the loss of innocence, the desire for new sensations, injuries, operations on the genitals.

Preparation

Having decided to perform the operation, a gynecologist examination and a consultation with a therapist will be required. A gynecological smear for flora, blood tests for syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and C are mandatory. The therapist will send you for an X-ray, an electrocardiogram. The decision is made taking into account the results.

Technique hymenoplasties

There are several types of hymenoplasty:

• short-term - refloration, maintains the result for 1-2 weeks;
• long-term or three-layer - a full-fledged hymen is formed, indistinguishable from the real thing even by a specialist.

The operation is performed 4-5 days before the onset of menstruation. Its course depends on the chosen type of hymenoplasty. Short-term is performed if it is necessary to obtain a quick result (1-2 weeks). The surgeon forms a new hymen from the patient's own damaged hymen by suturing it with absorbable suture material. Short-term hymenoplasty can be performed no more than 2 times, since the remnants of the hymen become thinner over time.

Long-term hymenoplasty is more complex in its technique and performs the task of preserving virginity for a longer period of time. This includes three-layer hymenoplasty and consists of using the remains of the hymen, forming new tissues from the vaginal mucosa (3 layers) (STSI method), moving and suturing them into its vestibule. The process of restoring the hymen takes a month, after which it cannot be distinguished from the natural one. [ 9 ]

Both operations can be performed under local or general anesthesia, but the latter is more expensive.

Laser hymenoplasty

The most modern of the existing hymenoplasty techniques is laser. It is more precise, less traumatic, reduces the risk of vascular damage and blood loss. Its important advantage is that the tissue is “welded” using a laser and does not require sutures, which reduces recovery time. Fractional carbon dioxide (CO 2) lasers emit light with a wavelength of 10,600 nm. The depth of penetration depends on the water content in the tissues, regardless of melanin and hemoglobin. Stimulates and promotes the regeneration of collagen fibers and restores hydration and elasticity of the vaginal mucosa. [ 10 ]

Contraindications to the procedure

Since anesthesia is used during the operation, contraindications to its implementation may include serious health problems, including those associated with blood clotting and mental disorders.

Consequences after the procedure

Like any surgical intervention, hymenoplasty will cause unpleasant pain for a few days, and minor bleeding is possible. At first, numbness may be felt in the area of the intervention (from anesthesia), and minor hematomas may form. Sexual intercourse after the operation will be as painful as the first time.

Complications after the procedure

The absence of contraindications and the professionalism of the gynecological surgeon will protect you from possible complications, but his incorrect actions can lead to:

• severe adhesion of the vaginal opening, which will cause difficulties during sexual intercourse;
• bleeding due to injury to a large blood vessel by the penis;
• the impossibility of outflow of menstrual blood if no opening is left.

Care after the procedure

Recovery after surgery will require following certain rehabilitation and care rules. These include:

• prohibition on taking baths and visiting saunas;
• do not use tampons until the first sexual intercourse, which is possible no earlier than 2 weeks after the procedure;
• proper observance of intimate hygiene;
• For the first few days, stick to only standing or sitting positions;
• exclusion of physical activity;
• use of douching with prescribed medications.

Reviews

According to women, the restoration of the hymen led them to the harmonization of their inner world, because they instilled in their partner confidence in their purity, their relationship did not suffer, but only strengthened. Physically, the man received quite natural sensations for the first sexual intercourse. The orgasm after hymenoplasty did not disappear.