Will I bleed the first time I have sex?
- Cait*

Some girls bleed the first time they have sex, but not all. The reason why some girls do bleed the first time they have sex is because the hymen, a very thin piece of skin-like tissue that stretches partly across the opening of the vagina, breaks or tears. Some girls are born without much of a hymen, while some girls' hymens cover a large portion of the vagina's opening — it all depends on the girl.

Whether a girl bleeds also partly depends on whether the hymen is broken or torn before sex. It is possible for this to happen from vigorous physical activity; tampon insertion; masturbation or fingering.

Remember to always use a condom every time you have sex, including the first time, to help protect against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: February 2011

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*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.

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