In child sexual assault, is the hymen usually broken?

• A. Yes
• B. Sometimes
• C. No
• D. Not determinable

Answer: (C)

Hymenal status is not a reliable indicator of sexual activity or abuse in children. The hymen is a variable, elastic membrane that can be stretched or torn from many non-sexual activities (such as sports, birth, or medical procedures) and may also remain intact even after sexual contact or assault. Because of this natural variability, most cases of child sexual assault do not involve a clearly “broken” hymen, and a torn hymen is not definitive proof of abuse while an intact hymen does not rule it out. In practice, assessments rely on a fuller picture—history, other signs, and context—rather than assuming abuse based on the hymen alone.