Holding on to virginity is crucial in some religions and cultures. You may wonder about masturbation and sex toys if you hold certain beliefs about virginity. You might wonder if using a sex toy such as a dildo will cause you to lose your virginity. You may also wonder if you are no longer a virgin if you masturbate.
The Definition of Virginity
The typical definition of virginity is to be without the experience of sexual intercourse. A virgin was generally someone who had not received or given coitus. In other words, there was no penetration of or with the genitalia.
Breaking the Hymen
The concept of losing one's virginity is based upon the breaking of the hymen in certain cultures. The hymen is a mass of tissue on the vagina that may or may not cover it. That piece of tissue usually tears or breaks when a female first has intercourse. However, other occurrences and situations can cause a woman's hymen to break. She could break it while riding a bike or horse, for example. She could possibly break it with a tampon as well. Furthermore, she could break it if she uses a sex toy and penetrates herself with such a toy. A woman can still lose her virginity, even if the hymen doesn't break, though. She can lose it just by having penetrating intercourse.
Can You Lose Your Virginity by Masturbating?
In most cases, you will not lose your virginity by masturbating. You may experience an orgasm for the first time, but that usually isn't enough activity to be considered virginity loss.
Non-Coital Physical Contact
You may wonder if you can lose your virginity by having non-coital contact, such as kissing, touching, rubbing, and oral relations. In most cultures, engaging in such activities does not make a person lose virginity. However, some groups may feel that all sexual acts affect a person's virginal status.
Can You Lose Your Virginity to a Sex Toy?
By traditional standards, a person cannot lose his or her virginity to a sex toy. However, not everyone will agree or have the same take on it. One could argue that a man or woman who has been penetrated by a dildo has lost his or her virginity. Others may not see it exactly the same way, because a dildo is a toy and not a living and breathing human being with fleshly genitalia. It is each person's choice what to believe about virginity and the concept of losing one's virginity.
You will not be lying to another person if you tell that person you're still a virgin if you haven't had intercourse with a man or woman. Therefore, you can choose to continue experimenting with your toys until you are ready to involve yourself with another person intimately.