The hymen is a thin layer of tissue located just inside the vaginal opening that partially covers it. It can be quite small or large, and may cover just part of the opening or all of it. Some women have no hymen at all while others have one that extends far back into their body. The color, texture, and consistency of the hymen also varies widely from woman to woman.
Hymens are often associated with virginity because they are thought to break when a woman has sex for the first time. However, this isn't necessarily true - hymens come in many shapes and thicknesses, so whether or not someone has had sex before doesn't always depend on how much they bleed or if their hymen breaks during penetrative intercourse. In fact, even having sex multiple times won't necessarily cause the hymen to tear completely. There are other factors involved such as sexual positioning, lubrication, the size and shape of the partner's genitals, and more.
While some people believe that a "raptured" hymen is proof of virginity, the truth is that there are countless other ways to become sexually active without ever breaking your hymen. This includes masturbating, using dildos or other sex toys, engaging in anal or oral sex, receiving oral sex, or engaging in digital penetration (fingering). Additionally, many women don't experience any tearing or bleeding during their first time having sex due to the shape or thickness of their hymen.
It's important to remember that virginity is a social construct rather than a medical diagnosis. A person can be a virgin by choice or circumstance, or simply never have been interested in sex or felt ready for it yet. Virginity is a personal decision and shouldn't be judged based on physical signs like hymen status. Furthermore, the presence or absence of a hymen does not indicate anything about a woman's character or morality. It's a normal part of the female anatomy that may serve various purposes but isn't essential for sexual activity or pleasure.
Ultimately, it's up to each individual to decide what they want to share about themselves and how they define their own sexual history. Whether someone has had sex before or not is no one else's business except their own.