Hymenal Characteristics in Girls with and without a History of Sexual Abuse

Abstract

This article reviews the recent literature on physical findings related to the hymen in pubertal and prepubertal girls with and without a history of sexual abuse. Characteristics of normal hymenal anatomy, acute traumatic findings, and characteristics of healed trauma are discussed, particularly with regard to changes in the interpretation of these findings that have occurred over time.

Keywords:

• hymen
• sexual abuse
• trauma
• anatomy

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sara T. Stewart

Sara T. Stewart, MD, is an associate professor of Pediatrics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the medical director of the Child Crisis Center at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.