One of the questions we hear quite often from women all over the world is, “can a virgin use a menstrual cup?”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The answer is, yes! You can use a menstrual cup as soon as you get your period, no matter how old you are or whether or not you’ve had sex.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Let’s make sure we have a shared understanding of what it means to be a virgin. By definition, a virgin is someone who has never had sexual intercourse. Conversations about virginity often refer to the hymen — a small piece of skin inside the opening of the vagina. The hymen is a very misunderstood part of the body. Many cultures view the hymen as an indication of virginity and believe that it remains “intact” until a person has sexual intercourse. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Contrary to popular belief, however, the hymen doesn’t fully cover the vagina, and it doesn’t break or “pop.” The hymen naturally stretches and wears down over time, and may become stretched long before your first sexual experience. As you may know, many different activities can stretch the hymen, such as bike riding, yoga, dancing, or gymnastics. Some women are even born without hymens. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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For some people, and in many cultures, virginity is an important concept. Some women feel that they can’t use the menstrual products they want out of concern that it will take away their virginity. Many struggle with the question of whether it is acceptable in their religion or culture to use a menstrual cup. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Yes, using a menstrual cup can stretch the hymen. Just as the hymen can be stretched by all sorts of activities, including something as simple as riding a bike. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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We deeply desire for each woman to have the freedom to use a menstrual cup and experience the joy and ease that it can bring to her life. The value of a woman is not determined by the state of her hymen, but by the existence of her soul.