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Difference between Hymen Blood and Period Blood

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Monika Dubey

Written by Charu Shrivastava, last updated on 22 September 2023| min read

Quick Summary

Hymen blood and period blood

Hymen blood and period blood are two types of bleeding a woman experiences.

Hymen blood is released when the hymen stretches or tears after having penetrative sex for the first time.
Period blood is released during a menstruation cycle.

Table of Contents

What is Hymen Blood?
What is Period Blood?
Hymen Blood Different From Period Blood?
Takeaway
Frequently Asked Questions
References

The female genital tract is a complex structure. The vagina is the elastic, muscular part of this tract, connecting the vulva with your cervix and uterus. It's where menstrual blood leaves your body.

Hymen blood and period blood are two types of bleeding a woman experiences. Several women believe to be on their periods when they experience bleeding caused by hymen breakage. Though both signify blood loss through a woman's vaginal opening, they are quite different.

The duration, amount, and frequency of hymen and period blood cannot be generalised to every female as it may differ due to physical, biological, and chemical factors. While hymen blood is released when the hymen stretches or tears after having penetrative sex for the first time, period blood is released during a menstruation cycle.

Although it is commonly referred to as a hymen tear, the hymen only stretches; it never gets torn. Before delving deeper into the difference between hymen and period blood, let's understand their meaning.

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What is Hymen Blood?

Hymen, a thin line of tissue at the vaginal opening, allows period blood and normal secretions to exit your vagina. Protected by the labia, a hymen has an elastic-like property that helps it stretch during sexual intercourse. The hymen can be subjected to splitting or tearing when you have sex for the first time. You may also experience a hymen split by engaging in various other activities, such as:

Gymnastics
Climbing trees
Riding a bicycle
Horseback riding

Other forms of nonsexual penetration that may lead to hymen tears include:-

Using tampons, menstrual cups, or sex toys
Masturbation
Getting a transvaginal ultrasound
Getting a pap smear test

While some women may bleed after a hymen split, others may not. Even for the women who bleed, the amount of hymen blood varies from person to person. Furthermore, some women are born with an imperforate hymen (the hymen covers the complete vaginal opening), making urination, menstruation, and bowel movements difficult.

What is Period Blood?

Period blood or vaginal blood is a part of the menstruation cycle that every woman experiences once a month, from puberty to menopause. The first day of a period is considered the beginning of your menstrual cycle. While the average cycle is 28 days long, it can range from 21 to 35 days. Usually, a period lasts for about 4-7 days.
The menstrual or period blood, including the tissue lining from the inside of your uterus, flows from the uterus through your cervix and out your vagina. Due to the remnants of the endometrial wall, period blood is thicker and darker than normal blood. In fact, menstrual blood is not always red. It can range anything from bright or dark red to brown or black. Like hymen blood, the amount of period blood varies from woman to woman.

Hymen Blood Different From Period Blood?

Hymen and period blood are two types of bleeding from the vaginal opening. However, they are not the same. The basic difference between hymen blood and period blood is its frequency and duration. You can identify them based on their content and texture. The following table summarises the difference between hymen blood and period blood.

Parameters	Hymen Blood	Period Blood
Causes	Tearing or splitting of the hymen	Menstrual cycle, shedding the remnants of the endometrial wall after an unfertilised egg
Frequency	Once	Every 28 days (average)
Duration	1-2 days	4-7 days
Occurrence	It takes place at any stage after birth	Puberty to menopause
Amount	From a few drops to bleeding for a few days	Two to three tablespoons (between 30 and 40 millilitres)
Content	Only blood	Blood, vaginal fluid, remnants of the endometrial wall
Texture	Thin, bright red blood	Thick, dark red blood

Takeaway

Both hymen blood and period blood are normal and have nothing to worry about. However you should consult a doctor., if you experience any of the following:

Heavy bleeding that lasts more than a few hours after intercourse
If you need to change a sanitary pad or tampon every hour consecutively for more than two hours during your period.
If you miss a monthly period or have more than one period every month.

You can contact a medical expert at HexaHealth to discuss your queries about the hymen and period blood. Our professional team at HexaHealth is dedicated to providing quality advice and treatment from consultation to aftercare. Get in touch with an expert or visit our website HexaHealth to learn more about our services!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a hymen?

A hymen is a thin lining of elastic tissue located at the vaginal opening that stretches as you move. The shape and size of the hymen can differ from person to person. It keeps bacteria and foreign objects out of the vagina. Thicker at birth, the hymen thins over time and loses its elasticity.

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What is hymen blood?

Hymen blood may occur when your hymen stretches or tears due to strenuous activities (like gymnastics or climbing a tree) or penetrative sex for the first time.

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Is period blood the same as hymen blood?

While both signify a loss of blood through the vaginal opening, period blood and hymen blood are different. Period blood is the blood released during the menstrual cycle. On the other hand, hymen blood results from the stretching of the hymen.

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What is the colour of virgin blood?

The stretching and tearing of the hymen result in virgin or hymen blood. It is usually just a small amount of thin, bright red blood.

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How long can hymen bleed last?

Having penetrative sex for the first time can cause minor bleeding lasting about 1-2 days. You should consult a healthcare professional if it lasts longer than three days.

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How does hymen bleeding look like?

The hymen is very thin tissue around your vaginal opening. When it stretches you may experience light spotting or bleeding, usually thin and bright red in colour.

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Can period blood break the hymen?

No, period blood does not break the hymen. However, using a tampon while having periods may contribute to breaking the hymen. If you have an imperforate hymen, you may not experience a typical period as the blood gets stuck and has no way to exit your vagina.

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How do I know if my hymen is broken?

If you see small traces of broken skin around the vaginal opening, you have already broken your hymen. Other signs of a broken hymen include light spotting or bleeding and slight pain or discomfort. After the hymen breaks, it sometimes goes back into the vagina or appears as a small skin flap.

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Does it hurt when your hymen breaks?

The hymen rarely breaks in a single event. Rather, it stretches, thins, and tears over time. Some people may experience pain and discomfort when their hymen breaks, but most won't feel anything. It ultimately depends on your hymen's structure and pain tolerance level.

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Last Updated on: 22 September 2023

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational and learning purposes only. It doesn't cover every medical condition and might not be relevant to your personal situation. This information isn't medical advice, isn't meant for diagnosing any condition, and shouldn't replace talking to a certified medical or healthcare professional.

Reviewer

Dr. Monika Dubey

MBBS, MS Obstetrics & Gynaecology

21 Years Experience

A specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology with a rich experience of over 21 years is currently working in HealthFort Clinic. She has expertise in Hymenoplasty, Vaginoplasty, Vaginal Tightening, Labiaplasty, MTP (Medical Termination...View More

Author

Charu Shrivastava

BSc. Biotechnology I MDU and MSc in Medical Biochemistry (HIMSR, Jamia Hamdard)

2 Years Experience

Skilled in SEO and passionate about creating informative and engaging medical content. Her proofreading and content writing for medical websites is impressive. She creates informative and engaging content that educ...View More

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