Many women believe it exists,
but science begs to differ.
The G-spot — a highly sensitive place in the vagina that supposedly
creates a highly intense orgasm when stimulated — is often discussed in
popular culture, and many women seem to believe that it exists. Advertisers
believe it, too, judging by the wealth of Internet ads that offer to teach you
how to find your own or your partner’s G-spot. But what, exactly, is the
G-spot, and do all
women have one?
"The medical community is skeptical about the existence of the G-spot because
the science isn’t there," says Edwin Huang, MD, medical director of gynecology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Most evidence for the G-spot is
anecdotal, and the studies that do find evidence for it are so small as to be statistically insignificant.
So, is the G-spot a myth, or does it really exist? Here is the background 411.
What is the G-Spot?
The G-spot is believed to be an extremely sensitive area inside the vagina,
less than halfway up the front wall from the vaginal opening. Also referred
to as the urethral sponge, stimulation of this spot is said to cause powerful
vaginal orgasms.
The idea of the G-spot has been gaining popularity since the early 1980s,
when it was the focus of a popular book about human sexuality called
The G Spot
(by Ladas, Whipple, and Perry, and published by Holt, Rinehart, Winston in 1982).
The spot itself is named after Ernest Grafenberg, MD, who was credited by the
authors for first speculating about a highly sensitive area in the vagina in a paper
published in 1950.
What is the Evidence for a G-Spot?
“There is not a lot of research on the existence of the G-spot, and so far
anatomical studies have not found any evidence," says Dr. Huang. "There is not
more nerve tissue concentrated in one area of the vagina than another."
The most sensitive parts of our bodies contain more nerve endings per square
inch than the less sensitive areas. Think about your fingertips compared with
the soles of your feet. Your fingertips have significantly more nerves per square inch.
If the G-spot exists as it is described, then we should expect to find an area in
the vagina that contains a higher concentration of nerve endings. So far,
scientists have not found an area like this.
Why is the G-spot important?
A review of the evidence for and against the G-spot also reported that,
despite a lack of evidence, the existence of the G-spot is widely accepted
by many women around the world. However, the reviewer worries that
widespread belief in the G-spot may ultimately be psychologically damaging
for women looking to improve their sex lives. Women who can’t find their
G-spots may feel inadequate if they are unable to have “better” orgasms.
This idea is especially troubling considering that genital enhancement surgeries,
including "G-spot augmentation," are on the rise, according to a
recent
Time magazine article.
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