You're still a virgin

Dear Ate Anna,

I love cycling and I have been riding my bicycle throughout the summer. Will cycling damage my private parts? Someone told me that I could lose my virginity. Is that true?

Joanie

Dear Joanie,

Ate Anna believes that you are wondering about still being a virgin if your hymen breaks while cycling.

To begin, Ate Anna has looked up the word “virgin” in a dictionary. According to Webster’s dictionary, a virgin is someone who has never had sexual intercourse. We also need to consider the question, “What is the hymen?” The hymen is a layer of tissue that covers the opening of the vagina. Like other body parts, hymens come in different sizes and shapes. Some hymens stretch all or partially across the opening of the vagina; some hymens have one or two large openings or several small ones. (These openings allow menstrual blood to leave a woman’s body during her menstrual period).

In many cultures the hymen is still considered an important sign that a woman is a virgin. However, the presence or absence of a hymen is not an accurate indicator of virginity. Some females are born with no hymen at all. Some hymens are elastic enough to allow a penis to enter the vagina without tearing or bleeding. So these women may have had sex many times and their hymen is still intact. On the other hand, some females have never had sex but their hymens appear to be torn or stretched. This can result from an injury or accident as well as from activities such as gymnastics, horseback riding, bicycling or inserting tampons. Inserting a tampon to absorb menstrual blood may tear a woman’s hymen but this does not always happen. Ate Anna also thinks it is important to say that injuries that affect the vagina and tear the hymen do not happen very often.

Sexual intercourse is the most common way that the hymen is stretched or torn. When a female has vaginal intercourse with a male for the first time, the penetration may tear the hymen. There may be a small amount of bleeding and some discomfort or pain. We often say the female has “lost her virginity.” This, however, is a very narrow definition of virginity. In the real world people engage in many different sexual behaviours and activities. If a person has engaged in every kind of sexual activity except vaginal intercourse, either with the opposite sex or same sex, is she or he still a virgin? Ate Anna believes that a person is a virgin until he or she has engaged in some kind of intimate sexual activity. What does “losing your virginity,” mean to you? Is it a state of mind or a specific act?

Joanie, cycling is an excellent physical activity with many benefits. Cycling is good for your heart and overall health. It improves your mood, helps to maintain strength and coordination and improves fitness and weight management. Auntie Anna strongly encourages you to cycle safely and enjoy the rest of the cycling season!

Take care,

Ate Anna

Ate Anna welcomes your questions and comments. Please write to: Ate Anna, Suite 200 – 226 Osborne Street N., Winnipeg, MB R3C 1V4 or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Have a comment on this article? Send us your feedback