The G-Spot

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THE G-SPOT Anterior wall erogenous zone or Freudian myth? Rhalou Allerhand examines the mystery of the G-spot Illustrations: Matt Reynolds he female orgasm has always been a matter of intense interest (especially to the half of the world population who possess a vagina), but the reality of what women actually experience is often shrouded in mystery (mostly to the other half of the population, who don’t possess one). Some women argue it’s essential for orgasms and others refute its existence, but for many women, vaginal orgasms and the mysterious G-spot are nothing but an unattainable dream. Whatever your stance, the G-spot has always been controversial and

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the subject of considerable media hype. Statistics vary greatly, but past surveys suggest that the majority of women have never experienced an internal G-spot orgasm, and some women even find it difficult to achieve a clitoral one. According to the 2008 National Orgasm Survey, 72 per cent of women have got a G-spot, although only 31 per cent claim to have experienced a vaginal orgasm and 36 per cent of women don’t orgasm at all during sex unless they stimulate their clitoris themselves. While some ‘experts’ dismiss the idea

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She says, ‘We’re all different. Some women will have certain areas within the vagina which will be very sensitive, and some won’t — but they won’t necessarily be in the area called the G-spot. ‘If a woman spends all her time worrying about whether she is normal, or has a G-spot or not, she will focus on just one area, and ignore everything else. It’s telling people that there is a single, best way to have sex, which isn’t the right thing to do.’ As an avid reader of Just Seventeen and More magazine, from my early teens I studied the Position of the Fortnight intently every week and, despite not being terribly successful with my own, have always assumed that the G-spot exists. After carrying out some research, which basically involved pestering all the ladies in my office, I was interested (and mildly envious) to discover that more than half of them claim to have fully functioning G-spots which, with a bit of special attention, can perform wonders for orgasm intensity. ‘I definitely have one, and think I would be a little bit lost without it,’ claimed Sandra from IT. ‘I find that a G-spot orgasm is more intense and lasts longer than a clitoral orgasm. I see the clitoral orgasm as a quick fix, whereas a G-spot orgasm is when you’re in for the long run and mean business.’

Some women will have certain areas within the vagina which will be very sensitive that G-spot and clitoral orgasms are distinguishable, and some argue that the G-spot doesn’t exist at all, there are also lots of women who would be happy to experience an orgasm of any kind, and couldn’t care less which way it comes. The location and even existence of the Gspot has long been hotly contested in medical circles. Despite professional and scientific scepticism, as a concept the G-spot has actually been widely accepted by the public and many women who haven’t even experienced one still believe that it’s achievable. But some specialists argue that the term has led to over-anxiety among women who cannot reach satisfaction this way, and can leave women and their partners feeling inadequate. Dr Petra Boynton, a sexual psychologist at University College London, argues that an entire industry has grown up around the concept of the G-spot, and labeling women who are unable to achieve vaginal orgasm as ‘dysfunctional’ has had a negative effect. 74

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Deidre from ad sales agreed. ‘I’m quite lucky; it’s been a regular occurrence for me since I have been with my current boyfriend. Definitely marriage material! ‘It takes me quite a bit longer; the longest amount of time has probably been around thirty minutes. It takes longer for me to achieve a G-spot orgasm, but it’s well worth the wait.’ Personally, despite my familiarity with the apparent location, I’ve not had much truck with my own, and manipulating the area generally makes me feel the need to pee, rather than scream out in orgasmic bliss. But ever the investigative journalist, I was determined to search out the truth behind the elusive female pleasure zone. For many women, it’s a highly sensitive area that provides hours of pleasure when massaged. For others, much like me, it’s a spongy bit that, if pressed, creates an overwhelming urge to urinate. And then some women don’t feel any sensation at all. There are a number of different theories about what the G-spot, which technically is more of a G-zone, actually is. Some experts say we should consider it more of an ‘anterior wall erogenous complex’, although saying that is nearly as tricky as finding the damn thing. One view is that it’s an area of tissue similar to the male prostate. Further research has shown that stimulation of the G-spot area can increase the pain threshold, so this sensitive and erogenous area is one of nature’s natural childbirth painkillers. So as you can see, the theories are divided and no one can agree on what to do with the G-spot, much less whether or not it even exists. Named after the German gynecolo-

gist, Ernst Gräfenberg, the existence of the humble G-spot was first officially confirmed in 1944, although fans of Tantric sex have been heralding the ‘sacred spot’ for thousands of years (indicating that perhaps yogic flying hippy sex isn’t so daft after all). However, the purported location of the G-spot has changed over time, and many experts continue to quibble over its location and existence. The G-spot orgasm is sometimes referred to as vaginal, because it results from stimulation inside the vagina, including during intercourse. The concept of purely vaginal orgasm was actually first hypothesised In 1905 by the original sexpert Sigmund Freud. Freud boldly argued that clitoral orgasm was an adolescent phenomenon, and upon reaching puberty the proper response of a mature women would be to change to vaginal orgasms. While most women would probably be very pleased if this theory were true, Freud provided no evidence for his wild assumption, and the consequences of the theory were greatly elaborated, partly because many women felt inadequate when they could not achieve ‘mature’ orgasm via vaginal intercourse wihch involved little or no clitoral stimulation. Using ultrasound, Italian scientists claim to have found the first compelling evidence that the G-spot exists, but say not all women appear to have one and the location varies. If you’re one of the lucky ladies, it’s alleged to be approximately a few centimetres up, on the front inner wall of the vagina and usually no bigger than a pea; but once you’re sexually aroused and in the mood for some action, its size can increase significantly. Doctors at the University of L’Aquila in Italy, FORUM

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where the pioneering ultrasound study was conducted, say the scans revealed clear anatomical differences between women who said they experienced vaginal orgasms and women who did not. The scans identified an area of thicker tissue where the G-spot is allegedly located, which was not visible in the women who had never managed to achieve a vaginal orgasm. The latest research, carried out by Dr Emmanuele Jannini at the University of L’Aquila, was published in the Journal Of Sexual Medicine. ‘For the first time, it is possible to determine by a simple, rapid and inexpensive method if a woman has a G-spot or not,’ Dr Jannini told New Scientist magazine. The team used ultrasound to scan twenty women and discovered that an identifiable G-spot is only present in women who could experience vaginal orgasm, and for these women, the tissue between the vagina and the urethra was found to be considerably thicker than in the other women. The ultrasound was used to measure the size and shape of the tissue inside the front wall of the vagina, often suggested as the location of the G-spot. In the nine women who reported being able to achieve vaginal orgasm, the tissues between the vagina and the urethra were on average thicker than in the 11 women who could not reach orgasm this way. ‘Women without any visible evidence of

The scans identified an area of thicker tissue where the G-spot is allegedly located a G-spot cannot have a vaginal orgasm,’ explained Jannini, ‘but they can still have a normal orgasm through stimulation of the clitoris.’ So if you’re on a quest to plunder your undiscovered G-spot, it’s worth remembering that you just might not have one, and ferreting around down there for hours might be a futile task. However, it’s also entirely possible that you do have one, but much like my jelly tummy, your inner muscular area just needs a bit of attention. As fans of Sex And The City will know, the pelvic floor muscle or Kegel exercise is supposedly key when it comes to achieving orgasmic ecstasy. Arnold Kegel, of the eponymous exercise routine, published a study in 1952 highlighting this link and demonstrated that ‘sexually dysfunctional’ women taught a resistive exercise programme could achieve orgasm for the first time. So, based on his findings, it’s worth remembering to do your Kegels, as it can do wonders for your pleasure quota and hopefully assist with locating your elusive G-spot and achieving the much sought-after vaginal FORUM

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ing position. As your muscles become stronger this movement will be more pronounced and hopefully soon you’ll be bathing in orgasmic bliss. This may or may not open the hidden door to your G-spot, but either way you will benefit sexually, as a stronger pelvic floor muscle equals more powerful orgasms either way. As experts argue that we aren’t all blessed with an interior wall pleasure zone, if you do decide to embark on a G-spot discovery expedition, the first step to enjoying vaginal orgasmic heaven is establishing whether or not you actually have one. Stroking is usually the most enjoyable form of stimulation, although sex toys can play an important rôle. Sexperts recommend inserting the forefinger and making a ‘come hither’ motion towards the front vaginal wall, but you’ll need to experiment with pressure and length of stroke to find out what makes you — or your good lady wife — tick. It’s incredibly normal for you to feel the need to pee when your G-spot is being stimulated, so make sure you’ve been to the toilet first to avoid confusion. It also helps if you’re already sexually aroused. The first couple of times it might be a bit odd, so it’s best to battle through the urge, as Kate from the post room in my office agreed. ‘I didn’t like it at first, as I just felt like I needed to wee, and I didn’t want to do that on my boy-

It’s normal to feel the need to pee when your G-spot is being stimulated orgasm. And, as luck would have it, you can do them discreetly on the bus and no one will ever know. Publishers of the 2008 Orgasm Survey claim that the link between a healthy and strong pelvic floor and better sex will improve the general health and sexual wellbeing of millions of women, improve and restore millions of relationships, and reduce the incidence of stress incontinence which afflicts many women. They suggest purchasing a Pelvic Toner, available from www.iwabo. co.uk, which is a progressive resistance vaginal exerciser, designed to help women meet the fundamentals of Kegel exercise. To make sure you’re doing manual Kegel exercises correctly, try to stop the flow of urine while you’re going for a pee. If you succeed, you’ve got the basic move. Or try inserting a finger inside your vagina and squeezing the surrounding muscles. You should be able to feel your vagina tighten and your pelvic floor move upward. Then relax your muscles and feel your pelvic floor move down to the start78

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friend’s hand, but after a bit of perseverance the feeling passed and it became incredibly pleasurable.’ Depending on the location of your Gspot, you may or may not be able to feel stimulation during intercourse, but you’re most likely to feel something if you have your pelvis raised, so experiment with conveniently placed pillows. Another popular position to stimulate the relevant area is doggy style, which should be quite pleasing for all parties involved. It would seem that the majority of us do have faith in the existence of the elusive pleasure button. If you are keen to experiment solo, or your partner needs a helping hand, you can now get all manner of sex aids designed specifically for the area. Seasoned sexpert and TV regular Tracey Cox has launched her own supersex G-Spot Orgasm Kit, designed specifically for stimulating the area — featuring a single speed curved vibrator designed to stimulate the G-spot, water-based lube and a G-spot orgasm guide. ‘Opinion divides on whether there is a universal pleasure spot that’s the same on all women, but there’s absolutely no doubt that most women find stimulation of the front vaginal wall extraordinarily exciting,’ says Tracey. ‘The supersex G-Spot Orgasm Kit helps you to explore this ultra-sensitive area and up your orgasm quota.’ Research carried out by LoveHoney. co.uk on behalf of Tracey Cox revealed that the desire to discover the G-spot is remarkably high, with 90 per cent of the 1500 people they asked agreeing that they would happily use a sex aid to help them achieve G-spot orgasms, 50 per cent happy to ask their partner to help them in their quest, 23 per

cent having tried both alone or with a partner and 17 per cent eager to set out on solo explorations, so don’t be afraid to explore your elusive G-spot pleasure zone as apparently everyone’s at it. As any man convinced he’s been weed on will tell you, some women can even ejaculate when their G-spot is stimulated. Research has shown that approximately 10 per cent of women expel between 9 ml and 900 ml of fluid from the urethra during arousal and orgasm, but experts have yet to agree on what this fluid actually is, so concentrate on your personal sexual fulfillment rather than worrying about squirting at your lover. And if you do mysteriously produce gluey fluids upon orgasm, Lord knows us women spend enough time on the receiving end of it, so it’s about time the boys got an eyeful of sticky white stuff. You may or may not have a sensitive Gspot, and everyone is unique, so if that specific area does nothing for you, don’t feel pressured into commencing a quest for the Holy Grail just because everyone else seems to be having vaginal orgasms in abundance. The key to a healthy, happy sex life is being open and honest with your partner and having lots of fun experimenting, so don’t succumb to the pressure to perform wonders with your G-spot if it just isn’t playing ball. But spending a few hours investigating the area (or asking your man to assist) might be half the fun, even if you don’t find your apex of passion whilst you’re down there. There are so many ways to enjoy your sexuality, and the G-spot is just one of them. So ignore Sigmund Freud: you are not sexually dysfunctional if you can’t achieve a G-spot orgasm; you’re just rather lucky if you can. FORUM

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