Does the G-Spot Really Exist?
posted by Lissa Rankin Jun 21, 2010 9:08 am
filed under: Health & Wellness, Relationships & Sexuality, Uncategorized, Women's Health, anatomy, beverly whipple, clitoris, doctor, g-spot, medical school, orgasm, pleasure, vaginal orgasms, what's up down there
When you think of a sonogram, you probably think of some grainy, grey-and-white image of your baby’s hand waving at you, labeled with the caption “Hi Mom!” You probably don’t think about the clitoris. But a couple of French doctors do (leave it to the French).
Is There Really a G-Spot?
A study in Sexual Medicine called “The Clitoral Complex: A Dynamic Sonographic Study” mixes ultrasound, the clitoris, the G-Spot, and vaginal orgasms together into a sexy soup I couldn’t resist writing about. Whether or not the G-Spot exists remains controversial. One of the questions I answered in my upcoming book What’s Up Down There? Questions You’d Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend is “Does the G-Spot really exist?” The answer:
According to the teacher in my Gross Anatomy lab, the answer is no. As we were dissecting the vagina, someone asked, “So where’s the G-Spot, Doc?” My teacher, in his thick Eastern European accent, said, “Zere is no G-Spot in ze human female.” Okay, good to know.
The rest of my medical training pretty much agreed with Professor Von Buzzkill. An expert in the field even told me that every part of the vagina has been examined under the microscope, and there is nothing on the anterior wall of the vagina that looks any different than the rest of the vagina. Therefore, the G-Spot does not exist. Period.
However, as is the case with much I learned in medical school, my patients tell me otherwise. Over the years, thousands of patients have sworn that there is a place felt through the anterior wall of the vagina that hits the oh-oh-oh spot – or, rather, is the spot. I believe in many things I cannot see, so I tend to believe my patients.
Hunting for data to validate their experience, I came across Dr. Beverly Whipple, who famously named the G-Spot after German OB/GYN Dr. Ernst Gräfenburg, who described a zone of erogenous feeling on the anterior wall of the vaginal canal. (A friend of hers suggested she name it the “Whipple Tickle”, but out of respect for Whipples everywhere, she vetoed this idea.) According to Dr. Whipple, the G-Spot definitely exists. When I asked her why some in the medical community vehemently deny its existence, she seemed baffled. She said, “I don’t know. I guess, because they can’t see it under a microscope, they think it doesn’t exist. But my career has been about validating what real women experience. And some — but not all — definitely experience pleasurable feelings when you stimulate the G-Spot area.”
Her belief runs so deep that she went on to conduct hundreds of studies aimed at validating the sexual experiences women relate. For one study in 1981, 400 female volunteers were examined. According to Dr. Whipple, a spot that empirically swells with stimulation was found in each of these women, although she admits that not all women appear to be sensitive to this type of stimulation.
So what is the G-Spot? Dr. Whipple isn’t sure. As Dr. Von Buzzkill said, no specific anatomic differences can be detected in this area. But she suspects a cluster of blood vessels, nerves, glands (including the “female prostate gland”), and part of of the clitoris may all merge to create a sensitive area that hits the spot. She believes the female experience more than the microscope, and I tend to agree with her.
Drs. Foldes and Buisson seem to agree with Dr. Whipple, theorizing that the reason some women can have vaginal orgasms is that the anterior wall of the vagina (in the location of the famed G-Spot) overlies the root of the clitoris, where the crura (legs) come together. So perhaps the reason that nobody can find an anatomic location for the controversial G-Spot is because there’s nothing special about this part of the vagina other than it butts up against a sweet spot of the clitoris.
When you think of a sonogram, you probably think of some grainy, grey-and-white image of your baby’s hand waving at you, labeled with the caption “Hi Mom!” You probably don’t think about the clitoris. But a couple of French doctors do (leave it to the French).
Is There Really a G-Spot?
A study in Sexual Medicine called “The Clitoral Complex: A Dynamic Sonographic Study” mixes ultrasound, the clitoris, the G-Spot, and vaginal orgasms together into a sexy soup I couldn’t resist writing about. Whether or not the G-Spot exists remains controversial. One of the questions I answered in my upcoming book What’s Up Down There? Questions You’d Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend is “Does the G-Spot really exist?” The answer:
According to the teacher in my Gross Anatomy lab, the answer is no. As we were dissecting the vagina, someone asked, “So where’s the G-Spot, Doc?” My teacher, in his thick Eastern European accent, said, “Zere is no G-Spot in ze human female.” Okay, good to know.
The rest of my medical training pretty much agreed with Professor Von Buzzkill. An expert in the field even told me that every part of the vagina has been examined under the microscope, and there is nothing on the anterior wall of the vagina that looks any different than the rest of the vagina. Therefore, the G-Spot does not exist. Period.
However, as is the case with much I learned in medical school, my patients tell me otherwise. Over the years, thousands of patients have sworn that there is a place felt through the anterior wall of the vagina that hits the oh-oh-oh spot – or, rather, is the spot. I believe in many things I cannot see, so I tend to believe my patients.
Hunting for data to validate their experience, I came across Dr. Beverly Whipple, who famously named the G-Spot after German OB/GYN Dr. Ernst Gräfenburg, who described a zone of erogenous feeling on the anterior wall of the vaginal canal. (A friend of hers suggested she name it the “Whipple Tickle”, but out of respect for Whipples everywhere, she vetoed this idea.) According to Dr. Whipple, the G-Spot definitely exists. When I asked her why some in the medical community vehemently deny its existence, she seemed baffled. She said, “I don’t know. I guess, because they can’t see it under a microscope, they think it doesn’t exist. But my career has been about validating what real women experience. And some — but not all — definitely experience pleasurable feelings when you stimulate the G-Spot area.”
Her belief runs so deep that she went on to conduct hundreds of studies aimed at validating the sexual experiences women relate. For one study in 1981, 400 female volunteers were examined. According to Dr. Whipple, a spot that empirically swells with stimulation was found in each of these women, although she admits that not all women appear to be sensitive to this type of stimulation.
So what is the G-Spot? Dr. Whipple isn’t sure. As Dr. Von Buzzkill said, no specific anatomic differences can be detected in this area. But she suspects a cluster of blood vessels, nerves, glands (including the “female prostate gland”), and part of of the clitoris may all merge to create a sensitive area that hits the spot. She believes the female experience more than the microscope, and I tend to agree with her.
Drs. Foldes and Buisson seem to agree with Dr. Whipple, theorizing that the reason some women can have vaginal orgasms is that the anterior wall of the vagina (in the location of the famed G-Spot) overlies the root of the clitoris, where the crura (legs) come together. So perhaps the reason that nobody can find an anatomic location for the controversial G-Spot is because there’s nothing special about this part of the vagina other than it butts up against a sweet spot of the clitoris.
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Marilyn L. says
Jun 22, 2010 5:02 PM
Trudi Gray you are one funny woman.
send
Teresa P. says
Jun 22, 2010 4:50 PM
I don't think I have a G spot. My orgasms are clitoral but they are very good. My vulva is sensitive too. Having orgasms seems a quite healthy thing to do.
Thomas T. says
Jun 22, 2010 4:28 PM
The clitoral glans is homologous to the glans penis in males, and the clitoral body and the clitoral crura are homologous to the corpora cavernosa of the penis. The labia majora, labia minora and clitoral hood are homologous to the scrotum, shaft skin of the penis, and the foreskin, respectively. The vestibular bulbs beneath the skin of the labia minora are homologous to the corpus spongiosum, the tissue of the penis surrounding the urethra. The Bartholin's glands are homologous to Cowper's glands in males.
Then, why would the part the was homologous to the male prostate dissappear? My contention is..it didnt, it IS the G spot.
The science shows that, depending on the hormone balances at the time of differentiaion, (we all start as female), there are variations in the final development of both male and female.
Larger, smaller this and that in both sexes, and, sometimes a complete shamnbles with both this and that in the same person!
That is why some have a larger G spot, some a smaller one, some, one without sensation.
In males, the main source of pleasure at orgasm is at the prostate. The male ejaculation is mainly prostatic fluid. Some women, at orgasm, also ejaculate. From where? I think from the now partly developed prostate, or, the g-spot.
Does the author agree, even though her professor professed otherwise?
Martha Kauppinen says
Jun 22, 2010 3:16 PM
Yes, the G-spot exists! There was no mention in this article of an "ejaculation of water" for lack of a better description. I wonder if anyone else has had this experience along with their G-spot orgasm.
Julie F. says
Jun 22, 2010 2:52 PM
The G spot DEFINITELY exists in some way, shape or form. I'm kind of agnostic about it - I know it's there, but I don't really care to define it so. :)
Jun 22, 2010 2:26 PM
Anna W., the G-spot rarely is enough for an orgasm in most women, even if a partner actually finds it! The clitoris is the main source of sexual pleasure for most women. Which is why intercourse is not often satisfying.
Anna W. says
Jun 22, 2010 2:19 PM
Not sure about the G spot. Why do women sometimes get an orgasm and other times they don't? If there is a G spot then it would make sense that every time the G spot is stimulated, they get the orgasm reaction, which is not the case (speaking from my own experience and my friends')
Laurie S. says
Jun 22, 2010 1:43 PM
Thanks for the article Lissa. I figure that as long as we all get our rocks off then it's all good!! :)
Jane H. says
Jun 22, 2010 1:17 PM
Thanks for your open and honest discussion and post!
Juliet D. says
Jun 22, 2010 12:53 PM
@ trudi gray thanks for the laugh! It's so true.. women's magazines have stories about how to please your man in bed, men's magazines have articles about cars.
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