The misconception stems from a misunderstanding of the hymen. The hymen is a thin, flexible piece of tissue at the opening of the vagina. For decades, it was wrongly described as a "seal" that breaks during the first time a woman has intercourse. In reality, the hymen is not a barrier; it often has natural openings to allow for menstruation and can be stretched or worn down by many non-sexual activities, such as sports, horseback riding, or using tampons.

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  While the hymen is the primary focus, other factors can contribute to bleeding or pain during a first encounter.

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