Epidemiologic study of hymen situation in persons referred to examination part of Shiraz legal medicine organization

Hymen examination has divers individual, family, social and legal effects. Thus epidemiology of hymen for physicians and obstetricians is important. In an analytical cross-sectional study of women referred to women's forensic medical examination part of Shiraz from 2008 to 2009 were examined. A total of 823 samples with a mean age of 21.78±2.98 years and 16-20 years old were the most frequent age group among the cases. 53.58% of hymens were dilated circular and 46.17% of them were non dilated circular and 2 had no hole.From view point of anatomical type, 86.99% were in dilated circular hymens with smooth edges and the most frequent time of defloration of 80.33% of the cases was 3 weeks before examination. A significant relationship was observed between age and health status of the hymen. Also the relationship between age and time of defloration was significant. There is a variety in anatomical shape of hymen, and distinguishing normal findings from abnormal findings in the examination of hymen is a matter of importance.