Hymen is a thin piece of mucosal tissue that surrounds or partially covers the external vaginal opening. It forms part of the vulva, or external genitalia, and is similar in structure to the vagina.
There are many reasons for a woman’s hymen to break/tear. Contrary, to popular belief, sexual intercourse is not one of the common causes of breaking the hymen. Some of the common causes for the hymen to break are due to the woman indulging in sports, dance and using tampons. Therefore, the hymen being intact or broken does not indicate the status of the woman’s virginity.