Can a woman get pregnant without breaking the hymen?

The hymen usually refers to the vaginal membrane. In general, pregnancy is still possible even if the vaginal membrane remains intact, although the probability is relatively low. Whether or not pregnancy occurs primarily depends on whether sperm meets and fertilizes an egg, rather than on the integrity of the vaginal membrane. The details are as follows:

The vaginal membrane has a natural small opening in the center, which allows menstrual blood to pass through. In some cases, the diameter of this opening is large enough for sperm to pass. If semen remains near the vaginal opening, sperm may use their motility to travel through the opening in the vaginal membrane and enter the woman's body. If the woman is in her ovulation period at that time, the sperm may meet and fertilize an egg, forming a zygote and resulting in pregnancy. However, this requires multiple favorable conditions—such as strong sperm motility and precise timing of ovulation—and therefore the likelihood is lower than with typical sexual intercourse.

It is important to note that if pregnancy is not planned, protective measures should always be taken whenever there is intimate contact, regardless of whether the vaginal membrane is intact. For example, condoms should be used correctly to prevent semen from coming into contact with the vaginal opening and thereby reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy. Additionally, it is essential to understand the physiological mechanisms of conception scientifically, avoiding contraceptive neglect due to misconceptions about the function of the vaginal membrane.