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Can virgins use The DivaCup™?
Physically, The DivaCup™ is suitable for women of all ages as the vagina is just made up of very flexible tissue and muscles. Women's bodies are designed this way to be able to stretch to deliver a baby. After being stretched after intercourse or childbirth the tissue returns back to its normal size. It is the muscles that usually need to be strengthened after childbirth.There are alot of misconceptions about the hymen. New medical research has shown that most hymens are a lot more resilient and elastic than most people think, and particularly so during adolescence. Medical research on the effects of tampon use on the hymen in women who have not yet engaged in sexual activity involving penetration has shown that regular use of typical tampons has a statistically insignificant risk (smaller than 2%) of causing damage or trauma to the hymen that was later visible to examining physicians.
It is simply not true that the hymen is broken as soon as someone begins to use internal menstrual products, and that although it is possible that some superficial damage could occur, the reality is that it varies quite a bit from woman to woman and many women using internal menstrual products do not, as far as researchers can tell, sustain any hymen damage at all from doing so.
Due to the high elasticity and larger than expected opening of the hymen, The DivaCup™ has no more or less probability of causing hymen damage than does a typical tampon. Once adolescence is reached the hymen can also disappear on its own.
Many of our customers are as young as 11 or 12 years old. It is ideal for young girls who are very active (such as swimmers or gymnasts) and are looking for a more reliable method other than tampons or pads.
In conclusion, yes, a virgin can use The DivaCup™ and no, the hymen is not likely to be damaged by using it.
Sources:
-Hanne Blank, historian and author of "Virgin: A History", to be released December 2005
-Emans SJ, Woods ER, Allred EN, Grace E. "Hymenal findings in adolescent women: impact of tampon use and consensual sexual activity." Journal of Pediatrics 1994; 125: 153-160.
-Goodyear-Smith FA, Laidlaw TM. "Can tampon use cause hymen changes in girls who have not had sexual intercourse? A review of the literature." Forensic Science International 1998; 94: 147-153)
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