Hymen Renamed "Vaginal Corona" by Swedish Health Group

There’s no such thing as ‘breaking your hymen’ through first-time sex, using a tampon or horse-riding, according to a new myth-busting booklet about hymens produced by the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education.

One of the key messages of the booklet ‘Vaginal corona: myths surrounding virginity – your questions answered’ is that the hymen is not a brittle membrane across the vaginal opening which can be broken – and so it makes no sense to use it as proof of loss of virginity.

Surgery on the vaginal corona rarely solves any problems, firstly because outcomes vary, and secondly because it helps to maintain patriarchal structures and a prejudiced view of women and their sexuality.