Some girls bleed the first time they have vaginal sex. That's because their hymen stretches or tears. The hymen is a very thin piece of skin-like tissue that partly covers the opening of the vagina. The hymen may cover a little of the opening or a lot. Whether someone bleeds depends on their body and if the hymen was already torn.

What Other Ways Can the Hymen Tear?

The hymen may get stretched or torn before sex by:

• playing or exercising in a rough way
• putting in a tampon
• masturbating
• fingering (using fingers during sex)

What Else Should I Know?

Remember to always use a condom every time you have sex (vaginal, oral, and anal) — including the first time — to protect yourself from STDs. Condoms also help prevent pregnancy, but not fully. So use them with a second kind of birth control, like birth control pills.

It’s common to have questions about sex, pregnancy, and STDs. Ask a parent or other trusted adult, or talk to your doctor. You can also go to a health clinic like Planned Parenthood.