Health
PT Health Watch: Can menstrual cups break hymen or affect virginity?
As more women consider menstrual cups as an option for managing their periods, questions have emerged about whether using them can affect the hymen or a woman’s virginity.
Some people fear that inserting a menstrual cup could “break” the hymen, cause a woman to lose her virginity or permanently make the vagina “loose”.
Speaking with PT Health Watch, Elizabeth Adewale, a Certified Holistic Sex Educator and Public Health Professional, said many of these concerns stem from misconceptions about the hymen and what it means medically to be a virgin.
Hymen changes
According to Ms Adewale, inserting a menstrual cup can stretch the hymen and, in some cases, may cause a small tear, but “this does not mean that a woman has lost her virginity.”
She explained that the hymen is a thin, elastic fold of tissue around the vaginal opening that varies in shape, thickness and elasticity from woman to woman.
“If it were a seal, menstrual blood and normal vaginal discharge wouldn’t be able to come out,” she said.
Ms Adewale said the hymen can also change for reasons unrelated to sexual intercourse, including physical activities such as cycling, gymnastics and other exercise. She added that some women may have very little hymenal tissue, while in others it may be difficult to see.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) also explains that the hymen is a thin membrane that partially covers the entrance to the vagina and can be stretched or torn through tampon use, sports activities or medical procedures. It also says the presence or absence of the hymen does not indicate “virginity”.
Virginity marker
Ms Adewale said the belief that every woman is born with a hymen that remains intact until her first sexual experience is incorrect.
“The hymen is not a virginity marker,” she said.
She explained that the hymen does not simply disappear after sexual intercourse and can still be present afterwards, although its appearance may have changed.
According to the expert, this means that looking at a woman’s hymen cannot establish whether she has had sex.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says there is no scientific or clinical examination that can prove whether a woman or girl has had vaginal intercourse. It also states that the appearance of the hymen cannot prove whether someone has had sexual intercourse or is sexually active.
Vaginal elasticity
Another concern is that inserting a menstrual cup could permanently stretch the vagina and make it “loose”.
Ms Adewale said there is no medical basis for this belief.
“The vagina is an elastic, muscular canal,” she said, noting that it can relax, expand and contract depending on what is happening.
She said inserting or removing a menstrual cup does not permanently stretch the vagina.
“Your vagina isn’t going to suddenly become a wide-open hole because you’ve used a menstrual cup,” she said.
However, Ms Adewale noted that vaginal insertion can be painful or difficult for some women.
She explained that women with vaginismus, for instance, may experience involuntary tightening of the vaginal or pelvic floor muscles, making the insertion of a menstrual cup, tampon, finger or penis painful or difficult.
“It’s not because their vagina is too small,” she said.
According to ACOG, vaginismus is an involuntary tightening of the muscles at the opening of the vagina that can make penetration painful or difficult.
Using menstral cup
For women who choose to try a menstrual cup, Ms Adewale advised first-time users not to rush the process.
READ ALSO: Group calls for reusable pads as menstrual stigma, access gaps persist
She recommended relaxing before insertion, washing the hands and cleaning the cup properly, finding a comfortable position and following the manufacturer’s instructions on how to fold and insert the cup.
A woman can squat, sit on the toilet or stand with one leg raised on a stool, she said, adding that taking slow, deep breaths can also help.
“Once you’ve successfully inserted it, allow it to open properly and create a seal, but don’t force it. If you experience significant pain, stop, don’t have to force it,” she said.
She added that first-time users may need time to become comfortable with the process and understand what works best for them.
Ms Adewale said the choice of menstrual product is personal and women should not feel pressured to use a menstrual cup if it does not work for them.
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A military cardiologist, Life Ajemba, has warned that hypertension, prolonged stress, and inadequate sleep could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease among serving military personnel and veterans.
Mr Ajemba, a major-general, said hypertension remains one of the most common cardiovascular conditions among serving personnel and military retirees.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja, he urged military personnel and veterans to prioritise their heart health through regular medical checks, physical exercise, healthy diets and adequate rest.
He cited studies which showed that hypertension accounted for 15.31 per cent of cases treated among mainly military retirees between 2015 and 2020.
He also referenced another study which found a hypertension prevalence of 34.3 per cent among military personnel.
He noted that major risk factors included alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, family history of cardiovascular disease and being overweight.
According to him, the demanding nature of military service could also increase cardiovascular risks due to physical stress, psychological trauma, irregular schedules and inadequate sleep.
“Military duties affect heart health through a combination of extreme physical stress, psychological trauma and environmental exposures that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease,” he said.
The military cardiologist explained that prolonged stress could increase the release of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, leading to increased heart rate and blood pressure.
He added that sleep deprivation, anxiety and other psychological pressures could further increase the risk of hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke.
Mr Ajemba stressed the importance of regular medical screening among military personnel, saying early detection could help identify silent conditions such as high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels and elevated blood sugar.
He said routine medical checks could include blood pressure and heart rate monitoring, blood tests, lipid profiles, electrocardiograms (ECGs), chest X-rays, and echocardiography where necessary.
READ ALSO: PT Health Watch: How Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension puts mother, baby at risk
“Early detection ensures that soldiers receive treatment while remaining fit for duty, preventing medical evacuation and safeguarding their long-term health,” he said.
He also encouraged military personnel to maintain regular physical exercise, saying fitness helped reduce blood pressure, improve heart efficiency and increase resistance to operational fatigue.
Mr Ajemba, however, advised personnel to combine physical fitness with healthy eating, adequate rest and avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
He said maintaining a healthy lifestyle could help military personnel reduce cardiovascular risks and remain fit both during active service and after retirement.
(NAN)
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The Plateau State Government and health stakeholders are developing a five-year transition plan to sustain HIV prevention, treatment and care as international donor funding for HIV programmes in Nigeria declines.
Ibinibo Chukwuemeka, Director of Health Systems Strengthening at APIN Public Health Initiatives, said the changing funding landscape would require greater government ownership and stronger measures to sustain HIV services as donor support winds down, according to a report by the Africa Independent Television (AIT) on Wednesday.
The AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, now known as APIN Public Health Initiatives, has supported HIV prevention, treatment and care in Plateau State for about 25 years.
APIN says its programmes have expanded HIV treatment access to rural and peri-urban communities, including through primary healthcare facilities.
The proposed five-year framework is expected to guide the state in assuming greater responsibility for financing and coordinating HIV services while protecting gains recorded in prevention, testing, treatment and care.
Health officials, representatives of relevant government ministries and other stakeholders are working on strategies to mitigate the impact of the anticipated reduction in donor support and prevent disruption of services for people living with HIV.
Among the measures under consideration is the integration of HIV and AIDS services into the Plateau State Health Insurance Scheme.
Stakeholders are also exploring local sources of antiretroviral drugs to help ensure uninterrupted access to treatment as external funding declines.
The proposed transition framework would provide a roadmap for sustaining HIV interventions and clarifying the responsibilities of the state government and other stakeholders in financing and delivering essential services.
The development comes amid a broader shift in Nigeria’s HIV response towards greater domestic financing and government ownership.
In June, the Federal Government launched the National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan 2026–2030, which prioritises domestic financing, expansion of health insurance and integration of HIV services into the broader healthcare system as the country seeks to reduce dependence on donor-supported interventions.
The need for alternative financing has become more pressing as international support for HIV programmes declines.
Nigeria’s existing national HIV financing framework has also identified locally produced antiretroviral drugs and increased government investment as potential ways of reducing the country’s funding vulnerability.
Plateau has previously taken steps towards greater domestic ownership of its HIV response.
READ ALSO: Body with parts removed found near Plateau market
At the state’s 2025 World AIDS Day commemoration, officials disclosed that 51,370 people were living with HIV in the state as of September 2025, while 47,056 adults and 1,835 children were receiving antiretroviral therapy.
The state’s HIV response recorded 2,786 new infections and 460 HIV-related deaths in 2024, according to figures presented by the Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Ba’amlong, in December 2025.
The success of the proposed transition will depend largely on sustained government funding, effective planning and the ability of the state health system to absorb services previously supported by external partners.
For people living with HIV, stakeholders say ensuring uninterrupted access to antiretroviral treatment and other essential services must remain central to the transition.
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