0:00:00.855,0:00:02.860 Nina Dølvic Brochman: We grew up believing 0:00:02.860,0:00:05.848 that the hymen is the proof of virginity. 0:00:07.348,0:00:08.414 But it turns out, 0:00:08.414,0:00:09.470 we were wrong. 0:00:10.139,0:00:11.489 What we discovered 0:00:11.489,0:00:16.335 is that the popular story[br]we're told about female virginity 0:00:16.335,0:00:19.664 is based on two anatomical myths. 0:00:21.438,0:00:26.355 The truth has been known[br]in medical communities for over 100 years, 0:00:26.355,0:00:32.449 yet somehow these two myths[br]continue to make life difficult 0:00:32.449,0:00:34.516 for women around the world. 0:00:35.714,0:00:38.890 Ellen Støkken Dahl:[br]The first myth is about blood. 0:00:39.545,0:00:42.062 It tells us that the hymen breaks 0:00:42.062,0:00:46.204 and bleeds the first time[br]a woman has vaginal sex. 0:00:47.052,0:00:48.118 In other words, 0:00:48.118,0:00:50.863 if there is no blood[br]on the sheets afterwards, 0:00:50.863,0:00:53.627 then the woman was simply not a virgin. 0:00:54.959,0:00:59.021 The second myth is a logical[br]consequence of the first. 0:00:59.996,0:01:03.589 Since the hymen is thought[br]to break and bleed, 0:01:03.589,0:01:07.392 people also believe[br]that it actually disappears, 0:01:07.392,0:01:12.826 or is in some way radically altered[br]during a woman's first intercourse. 0:01:14.181,0:01:16.321 If that were true, 0:01:16.321,0:01:22.096 one would easily be able to determine[br]if a woman is a virgin or not 0:01:22.096,0:01:24.278 by examining her genitals -- 0:01:24.278,0:01:26.646 by doing a virginity check. 0:01:28.449,0:01:30.276 NDB: So that's our two myths: 0:01:30.276,0:01:31.861 virgins bleed, 0:01:31.861,0:01:34.071 and hymens are lost forever. 0:01:35.351,0:01:38.313 Now, this may sound[br]like a minor issue to you. 0:01:38.484,0:01:40.218 Why should you care 0:01:40.218,0:01:44.761 about an obscure little skin fold[br]on the female body? 0:01:45.911,0:01:47.130 But the truth is, 0:01:47.130,0:01:51.883 this is about so much more[br]than an anatomical misunderstanding. 0:01:53.237,0:01:57.368 The myths about the hymen[br]have lived on for centuries 0:01:57.368,0:01:59.756 because they have cultural significance. 0:02:00.482,0:02:03.555 They have been used as a powerful tool 0:02:03.555,0:02:06.856 in the effort to control[br]women's sexuality 0:02:06.856,0:02:11.399 in about every culture,[br]religion and historical decade. 0:02:12.777,0:02:16.152 Women are still mistrusted, 0:02:16.152,0:02:17.433 shamed, 0:02:17.433,0:02:18.664 harmed, 0:02:18.664,0:02:20.239 and in the worst cases, 0:02:20.239,0:02:22.248 subjected to honor killings 0:02:22.248,0:02:25.066 if they don't bleed[br]on their wedding night. 0:02:26.515,0:02:31.269 Other women are forced[br]through degrading virginity checks 0:02:31.269,0:02:34.704 simply to obtain a job, 0:02:34.704,0:02:36.545 to save their reputation, 0:02:36.545,0:02:38.185 or to get married. 0:02:39.367,0:02:41.477 ESD: Like in Indonesia, 0:02:41.477,0:02:46.203 where women are systematically[br]examined to enter military service. 0:02:47.336,0:02:51.003 After the Egyptian uprisings in 2011, 0:02:51.003,0:02:56.399 a group of female protesters[br]were forced to undergo virginity checks 0:02:56.399,0:02:57.821 by their military. 0:02:59.024,0:03:03.933 In Oslo, doctors are examining[br]the hymens of young girls 0:03:03.933,0:03:08.046 to reassure parents[br]that their children are not ruined. 0:03:08.697,0:03:11.192 And sadly, the list goes on. 0:03:12.533,0:03:17.850 Women are so afraid not to live up to[br]the myths about the hymen 0:03:17.850,0:03:22.443 that they choose to use[br]different virginity quick fixes 0:03:22.443,0:03:23.943 to assure a bleeding. 0:03:25.048,0:03:26.975 That could be plastic surgery, 0:03:26.975,0:03:28.674 known as revirgination. 0:03:29.056,0:03:32.999 It could be vials of blood[br]poured on the sheets after sex, 0:03:32.999,0:03:36.232 or fake hymens bought online, 0:03:36.232,0:03:38.258 complete with theater blood 0:03:38.258,0:03:42.631 and a promise to "kiss[br]your deep, dark secret goodbye." 0:03:46.542,0:03:51.682 NDB: By telling girls that no deed[br]can be kept secret, 0:03:51.682,0:03:56.112 that their bodies will reveal them[br]no matter what, 0:03:56.112,0:03:58.764 we have endowed them with fear. 0:04:00.070,0:04:03.097 Girls are afraid of ruining themselves, 0:04:03.097,0:04:04.831 either through sport, 0:04:04.831,0:04:05.977 play, 0:04:05.977,0:04:07.101 tampon use, 0:04:07.101,0:04:08.589 or a sexual activity. 0:04:09.793,0:04:13.159 We have curtailed their opportunities[br]and their freedoms. 0:04:14.295,0:04:17.698 It's time we put an end[br]to the virginity fraud. 0:04:18.377,0:04:21.425 It's time we break the myths[br]about the hymen, 0:04:21.425,0:04:23.224 once and for all. 0:04:24.267,0:04:26.486 ESD: We are medical students, 0:04:26.486,0:04:28.280 sexual health workers 0:04:28.280,0:04:31.943 and the authors[br]of "The Wonder Down Under." 0:04:32.443,0:04:33.733 (Laughter) 0:04:33.733,0:04:37.141 That's a popular science book[br]about the female genitals. 0:04:37.930,0:04:39.498 And in our experience, 0:04:39.498,0:04:40.959 people seem to believe 0:04:40.959,0:04:45.329 that the hymen is some kind of a seal[br]covering the vaginal opening. 0:04:46.251,0:04:47.335 In Norwegian, 0:04:47.335,0:04:50.074 it is even called, "the virgin membrane." 0:04:50.466,0:04:51.550 And with this, 0:04:51.550,0:04:53.635 we picture something fragile, 0:04:53.635,0:04:56.264 something easily destructible, 0:04:56.264,0:04:58.738 something you can rip through, 0:04:58.738,0:05:01.974 perhaps like a sheet of plastic wrapping. 0:05:03.205,0:05:06.761 You may have wondered why[br]we brought a Hula Hoop onstage today. 0:05:07.918,0:05:09.263 We'll show you. 0:05:11.466,0:05:12.715 (Laughter) 0:05:13.382,0:05:14.380 (Plastic rips) 0:05:15.152,0:05:18.029 Now, it is very hard to hide 0:05:18.029,0:05:20.576 that something has happened[br]to this hoop, right? 0:05:21.570,0:05:24.772 It is different before[br]and after I punched it. 0:05:25.242,0:05:27.658 The seal is broken, 0:05:27.658,0:05:29.440 and unless we change the plastic, 0:05:29.440,0:05:31.560 it won't get back to its intact state. 0:05:32.813,0:05:37.117 So if we wanted to do a virginity check[br]on this hoop right here, 0:05:37.117,0:05:38.400 right now, 0:05:38.400,0:05:40.094 that would be very easy. 0:05:40.938,0:05:46.222 It's easy to say that this hoop[br]is not a virgin anymore. 0:05:47.244,0:05:48.520 (Laughter) 0:05:49.184,0:05:52.759 NDB: But the hymen[br]is nothing like a piece of plastic 0:05:52.759,0:05:54.739 you can wrap around your food, 0:05:54.739,0:05:55.848 or a seal. 0:05:56.528,0:06:00.562 In fact ... 0:06:00.562,0:06:02.212 it's more like this. 0:06:02.689,0:06:04.944 A scrunchie, or a rubber band. 0:06:06.588,0:06:11.381 The hymen is a rim of tissue[br]at the outer opening of the vagina. 0:06:12.231,0:06:16.557 And usually, it has a doughnut[br]or a half-moon shape 0:06:16.557,0:06:18.772 with a large, central hole. 0:06:19.943,0:06:21.418 But this varies a lot, 0:06:21.418,0:06:24.877 and sometimes hymens can have fringes, 0:06:24.877,0:06:27.182 it can have several holes, 0:06:27.182,0:06:29.805 or it can consist of lobes. 0:06:30.764,0:06:31.824 In other words, 0:06:31.824,0:06:35.599 hymens naturally vary a lot in looks, 0:06:35.599,0:06:39.920 and that is what makes it so hard[br]to do a virginity check. 0:06:41.693,0:06:45.329 ESD: Now that we know a bit more[br]about the hymen's anatomy, 0:06:45.329,0:06:48.240 it's time to get back to our two myths: 0:06:48.240,0:06:49.910 virgins bleed, 0:06:49.910,0:06:52.090 hymens are lost forever. 0:06:53.224,0:06:57.015 But the hymen doesn't[br]have to break at all. 0:06:57.685,0:07:02.332 The hymen is like a scrunchie[br]in function as well as in looks. 0:07:03.269,0:07:05.771 And you can stretch a scrunchie, right? 0:07:07.624,0:07:08.621 (Laughter) 0:07:08.621,0:07:10.786 You can stretch a hymen, too. 0:07:11.737,0:07:14.576 In fact, it's very elastic. 0:07:16.563,0:07:18.073 And for a lot of women, 0:07:18.073,0:07:22.617 the hymen will be elastic enough[br]to handle a vaginal intercourse 0:07:22.617,0:07:25.124 without sustaining any damage. 0:07:27.107,0:07:28.448 For other women, 0:07:28.448,0:07:32.856 the hymen may tear a bit[br]to make room for the penis, 0:07:32.856,0:07:34.853 but that won't make it disappear. 0:07:35.389,0:07:37.999 But it may look a bit[br]different from before. 0:07:42.857,0:07:45.377 NDB: So where does that leave us[br]with our two myths? 0:07:46.169,0:07:48.161 Well, first of all, 0:07:48.161,0:07:51.446 if you have an elastic hymen, 0:07:51.446,0:07:53.925 you will simply never bleed from sex. 0:07:55.027,0:07:57.813 It doesn't matter[br]if you're a virgin or not. 0:07:58.461,0:08:01.752 It's an anatomical impossibility. 0:08:02.272,0:08:06.329 And that is the case for half of you -- 0:08:06.329,0:08:08.808 except for the men amongst you, of course. 0:08:08.808,0:08:09.990 (Laughter) 0:08:11.314,0:08:13.251 So in other words, 0:08:13.251,0:08:15.689 some virgins bleed, 0:08:15.689,0:08:17.785 but some simply don't. 0:08:18.305,0:08:21.089 And that's our first myth shattered. 0:08:22.312,0:08:25.870 It naturally follows that you can't[br]examine the hymens 0:08:25.870,0:08:27.622 to check for a virginity status. 0:08:28.505,0:08:32.502 This was noted over 100 years ago in 1906 0:08:32.502,0:08:34.087 by the Norwegian doctor, 0:08:34.087,0:08:35.384 Marie Jeancet. 0:08:36.414,0:08:40.986 She examined a middle-aged sex worker, 0:08:40.986,0:08:46.162 and concluded that her genitalia[br]were reminiscent of a teenage virgin. 0:08:47.587,0:08:49.529 But that makes sense, right? 0:08:49.529,0:08:53.692 Because if her hymen[br]was never damaged during sex, 0:08:53.692,0:08:56.397 then what were we expecting to see? 0:08:57.957,0:09:01.974 ESD: Since hymens come[br]in every shape and form, 0:09:01.974,0:09:03.466 it difficult to know 0:09:03.466,0:09:08.581 if a dent or a fold in it is there[br]because of previous damage, 0:09:08.581,0:09:11.764 or if it's just a normal[br]anatomical variant. 0:09:13.310,0:09:16.490 The absurdity of virgin testing 0:09:16.490,0:09:22.456 is illustrated in a study done[br]on 36 pregnant teenagers. 0:09:23.689,0:09:26.212 When doctors examined their hymens, 0:09:26.212,0:09:29.573 they could only find[br]clear signs of penetration 0:09:29.573,0:09:33.073 in two out of the 36 girls. 0:09:35.623,0:09:40.488 So unless you believe[br]in 34 cases of virgin births -- 0:09:40.488,0:09:42.228 (Laughter) 0:09:42.228,0:09:43.813 we must all agree 0:09:43.813,0:09:48.032 that also our second myth[br]has taken a vital blow. 0:09:49.206,0:09:52.619 You simply cannot look a woman[br]between her legs 0:09:52.619,0:09:54.766 and read her sexual story. 0:09:59.800,0:10:01.559 NDB: Like most myths, 0:10:01.559,0:10:04.181 the myths about the hymen are untrue. 0:10:05.227,0:10:07.692 There is no virgin seal 0:10:07.692,0:10:10.842 that magically disappears after sex, 0:10:10.842,0:10:15.889 and half of virgins can easily[br]have sex without bleeding. 0:10:17.504,0:10:20.919 We wish we could say[br]that by removing these myths, 0:10:20.919,0:10:23.222 everything would be OK -- 0:10:23.222,0:10:29.582 that shame, harm and honor killings[br]would all just disappear, 0:10:29.582,0:10:31.829 but of course it's not that simple. 0:10:32.606,0:10:36.139 Sexual oppression of women[br]comes from something much deeper 0:10:36.139,0:10:40.119 than a simple, anatomical[br]misunderstanding 0:10:40.119,0:10:42.105 about the properties of the hymen. 0:10:43.242,0:10:48.981 It's a question of cultural and religious[br]control of women's sexuality, 0:10:48.981,0:10:51.265 and that is much harder to change. 0:10:52.087,0:10:53.711 But we must try. 0:10:55.633,0:10:57.610 ESD: As medical professionals, 0:10:57.610,0:10:59.870 this is our contribution. 0:11:00.851,0:11:04.607 We want every girl, parent[br]and [incoming] husband 0:11:04.607,0:11:07.489 to know what the hymen is 0:11:07.489,0:11:09.099 and how it works. 0:11:09.939,0:11:11.471 We want them to know 0:11:11.471,0:11:15.231 that the hymen can't be used[br]as proof of virginity. 0:11:16.131,0:11:17.261 And that way, 0:11:17.261,0:11:20.925 we can remove one[br]of the most powerful tools 0:11:20.925,0:11:23.392 used to control young women today. 0:11:25.684,0:11:28.398 After telling you this, 0:11:28.398,0:11:32.634 you may wonder what the alternative is, 0:11:32.634,0:11:37.489 for if we cannot use the hymen[br]as a proof of virginity for women, 0:11:37.489,0:11:39.119 then what should we use? 0:11:41.658,0:11:44.263 We opt for using nothing. 0:11:44.957,0:11:46.875 (Cheering) 0:11:46.875,0:11:47.879 If you -- 0:11:47.879,0:11:51.903 (Applause) 0:11:54.274,0:11:58.693 If you really want to know[br]if a woman is a virgin or not, 0:11:58.693,0:11:59.693 ask her. 0:11:59.693,0:12:00.691 (Laughter) 0:12:01.341,0:12:05.938 But how she answers[br]that question is her choice. 0:12:07.620,0:12:08.654 Thank you. 0:12:08.654,0:12:10.221 (Applause)