by Kabir Salisu | Oct 6, 2020 | Health & Wellness
In Arewa and many other cultures, it’s believed that virginity depends on the first-night bleed. That’s why some couples use white bed sheets for the bloodstain to be seen.
If the woman didn’t bleed at the first intercourse in her matrimonial home, it is considered she had pre-marital sex. Hence the accusing fingers of infidelity, harlotry, and other baddies point at her no matter how sane she was formally considered.
All these are because most people don’t know much about the hymen.
What is Hymen?
The hymen is a piece of membrane that is situated about an inch and a half deep inside the vagina. It separates the outer part from the inner part of the vaginal canal. One might ask if there’s a membrane then how does the menstrual blood flow out? Well, the hymen has a small opening(s) through which the blood passes.
Like any other part of the human body, the hymen does not look the same in every female. Some hymens are rich in blood vessels and nerves, others are not.
While most females have thick or thin hymens, some few others have no hymen at all, they were born with no hymen! Yes, it is normal and poses no health risks.
What Causes Premier Bleeding?
In females with hymens rich in blood supply, there occurs tear of the hymen at first penetration which causes the bleeding, with accompanied pain if the torn hymen is rich in nerves.
This bleeding is what makes the bride proud, the groom fulfilled and the families satisfied with the virginity and moral decency of the bride.
What if She didn’t Bleed?
Since we said that the bleeding is due to a tear of the hymen at first penetration, what of those that passed the first night with no blood drop?
Remember we said that some females have hymens not rich in blood supply, in these cases, there might be very little blood to be seen.
Also, nature blesses a fraction of females with thin hymens that could easily tear during exercise, cycling, horse riding, a simple act of running, or use of wrong sized tampons mostly with no bleeding or pain as the result of the poor blood vessels and nerves in the thin membrane. And if it bleeds and pains, it’s mostly mistaken for menstrual flow and cramps. It had gone! Unnoticed!
Moreover, about 1 in every 300 females was born without a hymen. Therefore, they experience no bleeding at first intercourse
Shikenan!
So, the above-mentioned categories plus the few unfortunate ones that faced the wrath of sexual violence, are all punished by our collective dogma of any bride that didn’t bleed on the first night is a slut. Bad. Cursed.
What a pity!
Red Flag: Re-virgination
Since society defines any woman that bleeds on the first night as a virgin. No matter how bad her record was, the medical community came up with an option; hymenoplasty.
Hymenoplasty is the surgical reconstruction of broken hymen. The operation is been done by surgeons, heals early with hard-to-notice traces. It restores the hymen, therefore the lost ‘pride’.
After the procedure, the hymen appears intact again and bleeds as supposed at the next penetration. Period!
By now, I hope you understand that not all virgins have the hymens to break and bleed, and not all those that bleed were virgins.
Help me answer the question, does virginity depends on the first-night bleed? It’s high time we stop determining the virginity of women by an uncertain fragile tissue. Some lost it by accident, few were not given at all.
Stop the stigma, spread love!
by Abdulsalam Yunusa | Oct 1, 2020 | Health & Wellness
Apart from the aesthetic value of hair, it has other important functions as well. This includes protection of the skin from direct harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun, and together with the skin, serves the function of sensitivity, temperature regulation as well as other functions. Due to the many benefits of hair, losing it partially or completely can affect not just one’s physical appearance but the psychological state as well. Hair loss is more common in women than in men. This is perhaps why women tend to spend more money, time, and energy on hair care.
Types of Hair Loss
Hair loss, medically known as alopecia, is of several types. These can be generalised as total or partial, permanent or temporary, hereditary or hormonal, etc.
1. Patchy Hair Loss (Spot Baldness)
It is an autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system to consider the hair as a foreign body, therefore destroying it.
This can be temporary or it can result in total hair loss on the scalp or universal hair loss in all parts of the body.
2. Androgenic Hair Loss
It is named so because it is caused by excess androgens (male hormones also present in the body of females) and heredity. Males can begin to experience this type of hair loss from their early 20s while women, in their 40s or even 60s.
When it affects the upper and frontal part of the head of males, it is known in Arewa as “saiko” (also pronounced as “sanko“). For women who experience it, it occurs mostly on the crown (top) of the head as opposed to males.
3. Temporary Hair Thinning
This occurs due to changes in the growing circle of hair. These changes can be caused by some diseases and even pregnancy; this is why some pregnant women experience temporary hair loss after giving birth.
4. Involutional Hair Loss
As other organs of the body weaken in function, the hair also undergoes natural thinning with age. The hair becomes shorter and fewer as well.
5. Scarring Hair Loss
The use of hot combs, plaiting, or weaving the hair into very tight braids usually results in hair loss. This permanent loss of hair can also be caused by diseases that destroy the hair’s ability to regenerate (e.g. Acne, Lupus)
6. Trichotillomania
The psychological disorder that makes people pull out their own hair is known as Trichotillomania. This is most commonly seen in children.
Now that you know the types of hair loss, how will you know that you’re losing your hair?
Signs and Symptoms of Hair Loss
The signs that let you know you’re losing your hair include:
Gradual thinning of hair.
Circular (or patchy) bald spots.
Full loss of hair in all parts of the body.
Patches of scaling on the scalp (this is a sign of ringworm).
Sudden loosening of hair.
Now that you know the signs and symptoms, I am sure you are eager to know the cause(s) of those symptoms.
Causes of Hair Loss
Hair loss can be caused by several factors. These include the following:
Heredity.
Physical and emotional stress.
Anaemia.
Pregnancy.
Deficiency of Vit-B12.
Low protein consumption.
Chemotherapy.
Ageing.
Over styling.
Pain relievers, antidepressants, and anabolic steroids.
Treatment of Hair Loss
As mentioned earlier, some types of hair loss are irreversible (permanent) while some are reversible (temporary).
Some of the victims of irreversible hair loss simply chose to accept it and move on with their life, while others result in the use of wigs or tattooing the affected area. However, those affected with reversible hair loss can regrow the lost hair. The treatment method used depends on the cause of hair loss. Some of the available options are;
- Use of Topical Creams and Lotions: These creams help to partially or completely restore the growth of hair. There are many creams available but it is best to meet qualified medical personnel for a prescription.
- Surgery: It is mostly men that undergo this method of treatment. It involves the removal of some hairs from unaffected areas to affected areas and also the removal of bald skin which is replaced by stretching of the hairy skin over the area of the scalp.
- Immunotherapy is Used for Those Affected by Total Hair Loss: This has not proven to be very effective yet but there’s hope that it will improve in the nearest future.
Prevention of Loss of Hair
Prevention is always easier and cheaper than cure. One should put considerable effort to avoid hair loss and the consequences that come with it. This can be done by;
Avoiding perming, bleaching, dying, heating, and excess pulling of hair. All these are causes of hair loss, therefore by not doing them, one stands a high chance of not experiencing hair loss.
Washing the hair is very important too. This should be done regularly with a good brush and mild shampoo or soap. This helps to keep the hair clean and protects it from infections that might likely lead to hair loss.
As mentioned above, consumption of food containing excess Vit-A, deficient Vit-B12, and low protein, causes hair loss. This can be avoided by regularly consuming a balanced diet rich in the nutrients needed for hair growth. Some of the required nutrients are Iron, Vit-B12, Biotin, and Vit-C.
Conclusion
Now that you know, I hope you’ll do as much as possible to protect your precious hair from balding and thinning.
Do you have questions? Kindly write them below in the comment box. Thanks for reading.
