In child sexual assault reviews, is the hymen usually broken?

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

Answer: (B)

In child sexual abuse evaluations, the hymen is not a reliable indicator of abuse. The hymen is highly variable in young girls and can be present, partially open, indented, or even naturally thin or absent without any abuse. Even when sexual contact has occurred, tearing can be minimal or healing can occur quickly, so a past tear may not be visible later. Because of this variability and healing, most cases of abuse do not show a clearly ruptured hymen, and a ruptured hymen is not required to conclude that abuse occurred, while its presence is not definitive proof. So the hymen is usually not broken.