Hymen reconstruction with LAVH -- anyone else?

I'm going to have to have hymen reconstruction with my LAVH and was wondering about that. Mine is intact. Any advice to share?

Hi zephyr Hymen reconstruction is a highly controversial procedure, so imho it's totally up to you whether or not it's something you feel you need or want to do.

I can only share my point of view, which is that I lost my hymen at 11 while horseback riding, and it never affected my knowing that I was still a virgin until I actually had intercourse. It never occurred to me to ask to have it restored.

IMHO, virginity is really about experience, not about whether or not there's a piece of tissue (a stretchy one at that, which sometimes can even stay intact after penetration) there. Therefore, either a woman is a virgin or she's not, regardless of her hymen. I'm kind of surprised these days, with most young women being as active as they are, that anyone doesn't break their hymen long before they actually have intercourse.

However, I do realize that in some cultures the presence of a hymen (and its rupture) is believed to be 'proof' of virginity at the time of marriage, and women have been killed over it -- which is why some surgeons (and also some who are not qualified surgeons) do perform the procedure, which can even include the implantation of a gelatin capsule containing fake blood Here are some links which discuss the procedure, and pros and cons:

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~issues/.../hymenrep.html

http://www.sexualhealth.com/question...nel=2&topic=34

http://www.psurg.com/macleans2000.html

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05349/622923.stm

Insurance does not cover hymen reconstruction, as it is considered cosmetic surgery. Do make sure your surgeon is qualified to perform the procedure, since there are people out there passing themselves off as qualified surgeons who do this procedure.

Is there a reason why, if you're interested in keeping the hymen intact, you are not having your hyst abdominally instead, to avoid the whole issue? There are several different abdominal procedures (TAH, SAH, LSH) available which would avoid breaking the hymen.

s,
-Linda