Do I Have POP? And Am I a Virgin?

Published: July 19, 2017
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I am an adolescent virgin female. I can see my whole urethra. Do I have POP? ...I do masturbate, but nothing has ever entered my vagina. (Does that make me not virgin?)
Signed: Do I Have POP? And Am I a Virgin?

Dear Do I Have POP? And Am I a Virgin?,

TeenHealthFX appreciates your concern. FX encourages you to read about female sexual anatomy, as doing so will allow you to distinguish between external and internal sexual anatomy, as well as better understand your body and its functions.

  • The urethra is the tube connecting the bladder to the exterior of the body for the passage of urine. You can see the opening to the urethra only.
  • The vagina is a closed canal which starts outside the female genital area (called the vulva) and extends inside to the cervix.  You are seeing the vulva when you look at the outside of the female genital area.
  • The hymen is a membrane that is in the vagina, located near the opening or vulva. You can read further about the hymen’s relationship with virginity here

 

In further, a virgin is someone who’s never had sex. However, people define “sex” and “losing virginity” in different ways. Most people consider the act of penis-in-vagina sex for the first time to be losing virginity. However, this definition does not account for other types of sex, such as oral sex and anal sex. Additionally, people who identify as homosexual do not engage in penis-in-vagina sex, and thus, define losing their virginity in different terms. Overall, the most important component associated with virginity is that a person does not engage in sex until they are ready

If you ever have any questions regarding your body or sexual health, you can speak to your primary care physician, gynecologist or adolescent medicine specialist. If you don't have a doctor and live in northern New Jersey, you can call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at 973-971-5199 for an appointment with an adolescent medicine specialist or contact your local teen health center or Planned Parenthood. You can also contact your insurance company for a list of in-network providers.

 

Signed: TeenHealthFX

Ratings