Are guys always able to tell whether or not a girl is a virgin when they have sex with her? Some say they always know, but what is the real deal?

--J.R.

No. Not every virgin will bleed when she has sex for the first time. Not every virgin has a tight hymen that can be felt to "pop" with her first act of intercourse.

The hymen is a membrane that partially covers the vaginal opening. In some women, the hymen has only tiny openings through which menstrual blood can escape, but in others, the hymen is just a rim of tissue. Use of tampons or even routine gynecological exams can stretch the hymen so it does not tear during that first sexual encounter. Or a woman can have her hymen torn before she has sex, by trauma such as falling onto an object; just because her hymen was torn through trauma does not mean she is no longer a virgin. A virgin is someone, male or female, who has never had sexual intercourse. Being a virgin is not something to be embarrassed about and you may want to discuss this with your partner. Make sure to always discuss your medical history with a sexual partner and find out about his. Taking precautions is the best way to protect your health!