Inspect
Give your toy a sufficient look over when you first get it. Look for seams, tears or defects. You want to make sure that you’ve received your toy in tip top shape. You’ll want to continue to look out for signs of defect over the course of its lifetime so that you can avoid getting infections or having the toy breakdown.

Clean
Always clean any toy before you use it for the first time. You don’t stick other plastic packing in your nether regions, no reason to start now. You also need to clean it before and after every use so that you can avoid having bacteria build up on it. You can buy toy cleaner or opt for the cheaper, just as effective route and use hot water and soap. Silicone (battery less) and glass toys can be washed in the dishwasher. Acrylic, glass and silicone (all battery less) can be boiled in water. Never submerge a toy with an electrical charge into water. You will destroy it. I know from personal experience.

Lube it
When it comes to lube, it’s important that you use the right kind for your toy. Your best and safest bet all across the board is water-based lube. You can use water-based lube with any kind of sex toy and it will not pose a problem. While oil-based lubes can work with some toys, it’s best to avoid it because it can cause infections in women and breakdown toys made with rubber or latex. Despite the name, silicone-based lube should not be used with silicone toys. You also can’t use it with realistic material. Be sure to thoroughly clean your toy afterwards no matter what kind of lube you use.

Storing
Storing your toys correctly can dramatically prolong their lives. You should always take the batteries out before storing. This will help you get the most out of the batteries you have and to avoid having the batteries breakdown inside of your toy. Find a cool, dry place to store your toy–one that is out of the reach of pets, animals and creepy, prying friends. You should also make sure that your toys are completely dry prior to storing. This will help keep mold and mildew from forming. Gross, huh? You definitely don’t want that creeping up inside of you.

Sharing
If you intend to share your toy with your partner or friends (if that’s your thing), you need to make sure to use a condom with it. This will allow you to go back and forth between each other during a sex sesh and will keep various bacteria from growing.

Sex toy choice
Finally, if you’re looking for a toy that will last you a long time, you’ll want to look for quality luxury sex toys. The twenty dollar bin will get the job done a few times, but won’t ride off into the sunset with you to live happily ever after. So if you’re in the market for a new toy, look for luxury toys because they are made to last, are rechargeable and ergonomically designed. You can find a great selection at adameve.com, as well as toy cleaner, lube and various glass, silicone and body-safe toys.

The G-spot (named after Ernst Gräfenberg)
Unlike the clitoris, the G-spot located inside a woman’s vagina. It is a small, highly sensitive area located 5-8 cm (2-3 inches) past the vaginal opening on the upper wall. During female arousal, this area starts to swell resulting in a small patch of the vaginal wall protruding into the vaginal canal. There are different ways of stimulating the G spot, with the most effective being rhythmic pushing and circular friction.

The A-spot (or Anterior Fornix Erogenous Zone)
The A-spot is a patch of sensitive tissue at the inner end of the vaginal tube between the cervix and the bladder. Its true location is just above the cervix at the, tough to reach, innermost point of the vagina. The A-spot has been described as the female equivalent of the male prostate. Similar to the prostate, the A-spot has been known to produce fluid and it has been suggested that pressure to the A-spot produces rapid lubrication of the vagina in about ten-seconds.

The U-spot
The U-spot is a small patch of sensitive tissue located just above the urethral opening. It has been suggested by American clinical researchers that this area be treated similarly to the clitoris and may result in orgasms to the same degree.

Now that we are all on the same page regarding the buttons on the female keyboard, it is important to understand their acceptance by scientific experts. Unfortunately, none of the above (even the g-spot) is generally accepted by all sex-researchers. From the male perspective, the mysteries surrounding female arousal and orgasm are just another example of the vagueness of women.

For example, Beverly Whipple, responsible for popularizing and naming the G-spot, still acknowledges the uncertainty surrounding the G-spot. In one of Whipple’s studies, after stimulation, all of the 400 women reported the presence of the G-spot, however, not everybody liked it being stimulated (meaning that, although it may exist, it may not serve a function during sexual arousal or climax in every female).

Additionally, after skimming through the academic journals, I discovered an even greater degree of uncertainty surrounding the other “hot-spots.” In fact, some women describe their orgasms that originated in different locations (clitoris, G-spot, & U-spot) as feeling different to them while others noted NO difference (so… differing female orgasms are just as debated as differing female “hot-spots”).

I think it is also important to note the other ways with which women have reported experiencing an orgasm. Particularly, women have identified experiencing a “happy sneeze” through stimulation of the anus and nipples, and more astonishingly, women have reported experiencing a “Big-O” mentally (through thoughts)!

Today, female orgasm suffers from problems similar to a double edged sword: On one hand, our knowledge regarding the female “hot-spots” and orgasm triggers are ever-expanding. However, on the other hand, many women report never having experienced an orgasm and may feel cheated or inferior because their expectations to do so. In other words, women should not strive for culmination but should focus their attention on just enjoying themselves.

Women can have pleasure and satisfaction WITHOUT orgasm. However, how can women expect a man to provide sexual pleasure resulting in an orgasm if women can not do it themselves? Therefore, it is important for women to experiment with themselves (“double click their own mouse”) to better understand their anatomy and sexual preferences.

Other Ashley Thompson Blogs
The Sexual Power of Ovulating Women
Are Open Relationships More Popular?
Study Shows Men Love Romance More Than Sex

Ashley Thompson is a PhD student at the University of New Brunswick in experimental and applied psychology with research interests in sexuality and attraction. Ashley completed her undergraduate degree at University of Wisconsin at River Falls in psychology. She is originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota and has moved to Canada for her graduate pursuits. Find out more at Turned-On.net.

…that was the question of all questions at the annual Guelph Sexuality Conference [2012]. My colleague, Amy Muise, and I were invited speakers at the conference. Here is a link to the abstract for our talk (scroll down to Friday, June 1).

We had a great audience (the word on the street was that our session was possibly the most attended session and we were up against some steep competition – 5 other concurrent sessions). We had great discussion. And you know why?

Because there are still a lot of questions floating around there about how technology and social media is changing our relationships.

The question is no longer “Is it changing our relationships?” The question is “HOW is technology changing our relationships?” And how is one to navigate relationships in this digital world.

So how is technology changing relationships, you ask? Well, the proof is in the pudding. What better way than to have people tell us themselves how they think technology is coming into play when it comes to these new-age digital relationships.

We did an activity where we gave out pieces of paper that had a description of an activity like “Have sex without a condom” and “Add the person to Facebook” and “Kiss the person with tongue” and then got the participants to come to the front of the room and put the activities in order. As in, which activity typically comes first in a new relationship?

We did some pilot testing before our presentation. Turns out there are a couple of activities that are a bit controversial.

The most controversial: “Give the person your Facebook password” (Now maybe you are of the minority that doesn’t have Facebook. That’s cool. But work with me, ok? Replace “Facebook” with “email.”)

No major surprises when we did the activity in our conference session: the first activities were things like add the person to Facebook, write on the person’s Facebook wall (although some of my friends think this is too revealing – much better to message this potential love interest privately!).

But what was really cool were some of the age differences. In our session, giving someone your Facebook password was placed close to the end BUT before saying I love you.

You wanna know where teenagers place the Facebook password item? Waaaaay before saying I love you.

When I did this activity with my high school students this past May–they placed that sucker before you had sex with the person–with or without a condom. But they’re also placing anal sex with and without a condom really early, too because “Hey, no pregnancy risk with anal, right?”

I recommend this activity to anyone. Dinner party conversation starter? Office icebreaker? (Maybe the anal sex without a condom isn’t best for the average office icebreaker. You be the judge.)

But it’s a great way to get people talking about how they view various activities in terms of trust, intimacy, and relationship-building.

Maybe you want to ask your partner if you are Facebook password-exchange ready?

Click here for a link to the radio discussion on the topic

Other Jocelyn Wentland Blogs
Can Men and Women Really Be Friends?
Would You Date a Bisexual?
Top Ten Reasons for Friends with Benefits

Jocelyn Wentland is a Sex Researcher, PhD student at the University of Ottawa. You will find her blogs are sexual, risqué (she likes to push the envelope), potentially offending, fun, but most of all, real. Read more of Jocelyn’s blog at SexResearchandTheCity.com and follow her on Twitter.

There is, however, a lot more to our mammary glands than health and cancer prevention alone. Here are a few fun breast facts:

Size doesn’t matter when it comes to sexual pleasure
Breasts come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colours and even textures and while women’s breasts seem to be growing (likely due to body weight increases), breast size does not impact a woman’s experience of physical pleasure. One factor that does seem to influence sensitivity and pleasure is the menstrual cycle and fluctuating hormone levels with many women reporting greater sensitivity during ovulation and less sensitivity during the first two weeks of their cycle.

Breasts get bigger when touched…sometimes
While size may not matter, it is good to know that breast size can fluctuate with hormonal changes, weight loss/gain and arousal. During the sexual response cycle, women’s breasts can increase in size due to swelling and the response of erectile tissue, but this size increase is only temporary.

The nipples aren’t the only sensitive part of the breast
Yes. I’ve heard many-a-man proclaim that the nipple is the breast, but it really only is one small (or not-so-small) part of the very erogenous breast. Research actually suggests that women describe the area directly above the areola as the most sensitive to sexual touch. Check it out!

No two breasts are the same
That’s right. There are always differences between the right and left breast and for some reason, the left breast tends to be slightly bigger than the right.

Both men and women stare at breasts
Yup! Nearly half of men admit that the first thing they notice about a woman is her breasts and a UK-based study found that a whopping 90 percent of women check out other women’s chests several times daily!

Breast play can lead to orgasms
Touching and kissing the breasts can result in the release of oxytocin, the pleasure hormone associated with bonding, arousal, orgasm and uterine contractions.

Like all things sexual, breast orgasms are not a circus trick and while orgasmic response ultimately originates in the brain, getting creative with breast play may have some potentially climactic results.

Bear in mind that since no two breasts are alike, every woman will enjoy different degrees of pressure and touch. Some may love a powerful grab while others may not enjoy skin-to-skin contact and since there really is no such thing as “normal” when it comes to sex, the only way to know what your partner likes is to ask.

From hard biting to gentle teasing through a thick sweater and everything in between, the breasts are just one region of your full-body canvas, so love them, enjoy them and be sure to take care of them for both your health and pleasure.

Until next time, have fun, experiment and always practice safer sex.

More Dr. Jess Articles
Try This Fantastic CAT Sex Position

Dr. Jess (Jessica O’Reilly) is a sought-after sexologist with a PhD in human sexuality. She maintains a private practice in Toronto and travels the world to speak at events that promote healthy and deliciously pleasurable sex. From regular appearances on Cosmopolitan Television and Playboy TV to hosting retreats in the sunny Caribbean, she relishes in every moment! Check out her website SexWithDrJess.com, follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Originally published in LisaLiving.ca

Use the Heat to Your Advantage
Don’t be afraid to turn off the cool in order to fire things up. Most of us try to drown out the heat with A/C overload. Not only is this bad for the environment, it’s not always great for your love life either. Remember, heat relaxes your muscles (which if anyone has ever taken a Bikram Yoga class knows, allows for easier access to unique…ahem…positions).

And don’t forget sweating enhances your own natural scent which can be a powerful phermoneal (yes, I just made up that word) aphrodisiac.

Cool it Down
If the heat is getting too much for you, don’t forget that a shock of cold against hot skin can make for great sensation play. Anything from ice to a cold water spray bottle to a fan is a great way to play alone or with your partner. Aim for sensitive parts of the body, such as the nipples, the back of the neck and inner thighs.

Get Outdoors
In the winter we are all cooped up and many of us are in an unsexy hibernation mode. This is the season to find ways and places to be playful outdoors. Go hiking to remote areas and become “one” with nature. You can also make your days “Happy Days” by going to retro drive-ins or finding your own “Blueberry Hills” for thrills before heading home.

Check Out a Hot New Sex Toy
Either alone or with a partner – make a date to go out to check out a new toy. Some hot suggestions include Fun Factory’s cute little vibrator called “Spring” that comes in pink or green and has a little butterfly on it. And for men, there’s the cute little Tenga egg that will get your morning cracking.

Try a Spicy Movie
There are lots of new great movies on the market that go beyond the usual badly acted, fake-o ridiculousness that is so often prevalent in most adult films.
One out of the box suggestions includes:
SpeakEasy is a great queer film set in the 1940′s–featuring girls with girls, bois with girls, bois with bois – HOT!)

And if you want to learn something while you’re at it–don’t forget that there’s a whole range of educational DVD’s available ranging in topics from G-spots to Swinging.

Happy summer lovin!!

Other Cynthia Loyst Blogs
Female Friendly Porn
The Ins and Outs of Anal Sex
Craving a Massage with a ‘Happy Ending’
Husband Wants Sex Everyday

Outspoken, hip, irreverent – yet enlightening, Cynthia Loyst is a TV host, advice columnist & relationship coach who likes to ask uncomfortable questions. She’s also a certified life/relationship coach and guest expert on a variety of shows including The Marilyn Denis Show, CTV Newsnet and Etalk. Follow Cynthia on Twitter.

What is it about this woman that attracts all of the attention? Psychologists and dating experts would propose a host of explanations: It’s her social personality, her come-hither look, her approachable persona, etc. But an evolutionary psychologist is observing the scene surprisingly different by positing that, it’s her “real” time of the month. In other words, the belle of the bar is likely reaching peak fertility.

You see, while ovulating, once per month the female brain kicks into competition mode. It is at this time of the month that women are at peak fertility and are subconsciously driven to attract the best quality sexual partners. Additionally, it is during this time that women’s preferences for potential partners shift.

For example, we may think that each woman has an unchanging “type”—but it turns out that women prefer quite different kinds of men depending on whether they are fertile. In the two days or so of the ovulatory phase—the time when women are most likely to become pregnant—they gravitate toward men with more “masculine” traits. This means that a man who has a leaner, V-shaped body, and a face with a squarer chin, heavier eyebrows, and thinner lips; one who speaks in a lower-pitched voice, and displays more dominant behavior is more appealing to an ovulating woman than to all other women. However, during the other 26 days of the month, women prefer men with softer features, less-defined bodies, higher voices, and a gentler manner.

These differing preferences emerge out of two competing reproductive goals.
(1) When women want to get the highest-quality genetic material for their children (aka: when a woman is fertile) a woman will prefer masculine men, because high genetic quality in a man is indicated by his level of testosterone.
(2) During the rest of her cycle, however, a woman wants to secure the most generous and stable source of goods for herself and her children. Now the nice-guy provider starts to look appealing.

The influence of the menstrual cycle on women is apparent not only in whom they desire but in how they act. For example, researchers have found that women who are in the fertile phase show more interest in erotic materials than women not ovulating, In particular, given a choice of movies to watch, fertile women will select movies with more romantic or sexual themes.

Other research indicates that they take more care with their appearance, and choose more revealing clothes to wear. In fact, in 2004 study, a group of researchers from the University of Vienna digitally analyzed pictures of 351 women going out to Austrian nightclubs and collected a saliva sample from each. Women whose clothes were tight or showed a lot of skin had higher levels of estradiol, a female hormone that is elevated around the time of peak fertility.

So, although we all like to think we have complete control over our dating lives. It may not be that simple. In fact, many of the things that women prefer and many of the things women do may be JUST BEYOND THEIR CONTROL.

Other Ashely Articles
Are Open Relationships More Popular?
Study Shows Men Love Romance More than Sex
Should You Wear a Condom During Oral Sex

Ashley Thompson is a PhD student at the University of New Brunswick in experimental and applied psychology with research interests in sexuality and attraction. Ashley completed her undergraduate degree at University of Wisconsin at River Falls in psychology. She is originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota and has moved to Canada for her graduate pursuits. Find out more at Turned-On.net.

Will something happen? Will the other person have reciprocal feelings? Will the friendship end once someone announces their (potentially unrequited) love?

The infamous Harry Burns definitely thinks men and women can’t be friends in When Harry Met Sally.

And why have cross-sex friends anyways? Well in our past, these friendships provided us with additional mating opportunities. But cross-sex friends are new, because back in the day, anyone you hung around with was likely genetically related to you.

So modern day friendship looks pretty different. Or so we think. We don’t have that much on cross-sex friendship. We have lots on same-sex friends, why friends are important, and the role of close relationships.

But how about this study (it’s NOT my study–I had nothing to do with it) researchers had 88 friendship pairs come into the study and fill out measures on their friendship. All were heterosexual and had been friends for an average of 2 years. They had to both report that they were not sexually or romantically involved with each other. Thus, any Friends with Benefits should’ve high-tailed it outta there at this point.

Survey says

(1) Men were more likely to report being attracted to their female friend and more likely to report their female friend being attracted to them – even though they reported that they knew they were more attracted to their female friends than their female friends were to them.

(2) Men more likely to report wanting to date their female friend and overestimated how much their female friends wanted to date them. Women made more accurate predictions in this regard: women reported that their male friends wanted to date them more than they wanted to date their male friends.

(3) It didn’t matter to the men if they were in a relationship with someone else–single and non-single males reported the same level of attraction to their female friends. Women made a distinction: single women reported more attraction for their male companions.

Women underestimated the level of attraction their male friends had for them.

Does “He doesn’t like me; we’re just friends” sound familiar, anyone?

Then in Study 2, they asked people in age groups 18-23 and 27-55 about the benefits and costs to cross-sex friendship.

Check these tables out
Table #1

Table #2

Being attracted to a partner: costly and confusing.

Older group reported fewer opposite sex friends (function of marriage?) with older aged women reporting the fewest opposite sex friends. Jealous partners perhaps? Overall, women reported less attraction to opposite sex friends. Not surprisingly, men were more likely to report attraction as a benefit for both age groups.

Single adults reported as much attraction to opposite sex friends as the younger adult group did. Singles were also less likely to report cross-sex friends as a potential cost.

Of course friendships aren’t just costly; friends can also be convenient sexual partners.

Other Jocelyn Wentland Blogs
Top Ten Reasons for Friends With Benefits
Noisy Sex May Mean She’s Not Enjoying Herself
Would You Date a BiSexual?

Jocelyn Wentland is a Sex Researcher, PhD student at the University of Ottawa. You will find her blogs are sexual, risqué (she likes to push the envelope), potentially offending, fun, but most of all, real. Read more of Jocelyn’s blog at SexResearchandTheCity.com and follow her on Twitter.

One approach to orgasm-inducing intercourse involves the Coital Alignment Technique (CAT). This positioning and movement can provide a woman with both vaginal and clitoral stimulation, stimulate a man’s shaft and prostatic nerves and does not require any challenging gymnastic moves or flexibility. Hooray! Because we’re tired of swinging off chandeliers, right?

The CAT is a basic modification of the missionary position that involves the man riding up on a woman’s pelvis so they can rock and rub the clitoris against the base of his penis and/or pelvic bone.

Here’s the basic breakdown:
(1) The woman lies on her back and the man lies on top inserting his penis into the vagina.
(2) He then shifts his body upwards along hers (he can rest his hands/arms beside her head) so that the base of his penis and pelvic bone press firmly against her clitoral hood and pelvic bone.
(3) Often the CAT involves the woman pressing her pelvis upwards and wrapping her feet around his calves.
Play with synchronized rocking and rubbing movements as opposed to in-and-out thrusting.
(4) Some women find intensified pleasure in squeezing their legs together during the CAT to create greater friction and tension.This squeezing sensation can also intensify the male partner’s pleasure.

Sound technical? It’s really quite simple and feels a lot better than it looks on paper. Don’t take my word for it. Try it out for yourself!

Once you’ve got the hang of rubbing the clitoral hood and female pelvic bone against the hard base of the penis and/or male pelvic bone during intercourse, you can modify the CAT into a range of other positions on your side or even upside down.

If the CAT doesn’t make you tingle with passion, don’t feel the need to give up on intercourse entirely. No singular approach to pleasure works for every woman, but if you keep experimenting, you’ll find your triggers. Play with running water, vibrating toys, fingers, tongues and fantasy until you find your toes curling with pleasure beneath the sheets (or on the hood of the car as the case may be).

And ladies and gents, please don’t ignore all your other beautiful erogenous zones: the brain, breasts, thighs, backs of knees, feet, palms, neck, ears, belly, bum and more!

Some women can orgasm through fantasy alone and others can reach the heights of ecstasy with a little breast play. Others swear by anal stimulation, while some find sharing of far-fetched fantasies incomparable as a means to orgasmic release.

Combine any of these activities to find what works for you. With the right attitude and a healthy sense of humour, you should enjoy both the process and the end result.

Have fun experimenting and always practice safer sex!

Related Articles
Asking For What You Want in Bed
What Does an Orgasm Feel Like?
Man Wants to Last Longer During Sex

Dr. Jess (Jessica O’Reilly) is a sought-after sexologist with a PhD in human sexuality. She maintains a private practice in Toronto and travels the world to speak at events that promote healthy and deliciously pleasurable sex. From regular appearances on Cosmopolitan Television and Playboy TV to hosting retreats in the sunny Caribbean, she relishes in every moment! Check out her website SexWithDrJess.com, follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Originally published in Eligible Magazine.com

Most women who I have spoken with who are not into anal sex have usually had it, ahem, “thrust” upon them in the throes of passion. One minute they were having hot sex, and the next, something was being shoved up their butt. I can say with utmost confidence, this is NOT the way to approach anal sex with a partner for the first time.

There are many ways to find out if your girlfriend might be interested. One of the easiest ways would be to bring up the conversation outside of the bedroom. Begin by sharing your sexual likes and dislikes and within that conversation you could simply ask for her thoughts about anal play.

If her reaction is, “ewwww, gross,” you could ask her why she feels that way. It might be she’s had a bad experience or she has simply had years of receiving negative messages about that part of her body. This doesn’t necessarily mean that she wouldn’t be open to exploring anal play if it is done slowly and safely in a trusting environment.

However, if she is totally opposed to it then you have to accept that may never change, no matter how you feel about it.

Another way to explore this would be when you are intimate, you can try gently touching around that area to see how she feels. If she squirms away, you’ve been given a clear message. However, it may just be that she isn’t feeling especially into it on that particular day so again, it’s worth asking about later on.

If, however, she gives physical or auditory cues that indicate that she is enjoying herself then you can gently try working the tip of your finger in. You need to be prepared to take the tiniest of baby steps when it comes to this and continue to be open to chatting about her feelings/concerns/likes/dislikes afterwards.

And, in addition to patience and sensitivity, I cannot stress enough the importance of lube in all anal play.

I also spoke with sex educator Cory Silverberg about your question and he added this:

There’s a school of thought that says that if one person is interested in anal play, that person should be open to exploring being on both the giving and receiving end. Expressing that you’re open to this can dramatically change how a conversation like this goes. Of course it has to be a genuine offer, so you’ll need to think about this for yourself first.

In other words, if you’re interested in her being open to you exploring that part of her, you should also be open to the possibility that she may want to explore that part of you as well.

And for more tips and techniques, I would highly recommend Tristan Taormino’s Ultimate Guide To Anal Sex For Women.

Other Cynthia Loyst Blogs
Female Friendly Porn
Craving a Massage with a ‘Happy Ending’
Husband Wants Sex Everyday

Outspoken, hip, irreverent – yet enlightening, Cynthia Loyst is a TV host, advice columnist & relationship coach who likes to ask uncomfortable questions. She’s also a certified life/relationship coach and guest expert on a variety of shows including The Marilyn Denis Show, CTV Newsnet and Etalk. Follow Cynthia on Twitter.

The study, based on one autopsy of one 83-year-old woman’s cadaver (that’s right, one deceased woman), was published in the latest issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine by gynecologist Dr. Adam Ostrzenski and is the first documented scientific account of the anatomic existence of the G-spot.

According to Dr. Ostrzenski, the structure is a distinct, well-defined, blue grape-like structure within a sac located on the back of the vagina. Specific dimensions of this particular woman’s G-spot were provided, alongside pictures of the structure as it was dissected.

Although we can gain some scientific benefit from this dissection, it is premature to draw conclusions and generalize to women as a whole. When I heard about this study, I got in contact with a colleague of mine, Dr. Jonathan Huber, an Ottawa-based obstetrician/gynecologist and Associate Professor at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, to get his insight into this study. He also had some concerns about the implications of the study, stating:

We know nothing about the sexual functioning of that cadaver as a living person, so its presumptuous to make the connection between the described anatomical feature and how it might have functioned or felt to her in the context of her life. More importantly, though, the search for the anatomical basis of the G-spot de-emphasizes potentially more important factors that contribute to sexual pleasure.

If we use the clitoris as an example of another anatomical structure of which the location, nervous anatomy, and function is well-described, Dr. Huber says,

Simply knowing about or having a clitoris isn’t necessarily the panacea of sexual pleasure for all women. There are a number of important sociocultural influences that can lead to sexual dysfunction, even in women with perfectly functioning clitorises. Similarly, simply knowing the location and anatomy of the G-spot won’t necessarily lead to sexual pleasure or better sex for all women, and it’s important to keep that in mind when evaluating the importance of this research.

Its premature to draw any conclusions about all women from a dissection of a single cadaver. However, Dr. Ostrzenski claims he is currently currently conducting studies to identify the G-spot in women of different ages and believes the G-spot can weaken or rupture, most commonly through trauma experienced during labor.

If we create hype around the existence of the G-spot as the central pleasure point, we will see an unwarranted increase in potentially dangerous (and expensive) procedures for “G-spot amplification” such as the “G-shot” that temporarily augments the G-spot. The problem with treatments like this is that there is no scientific evidence to indicate that having this procedure done actually has any positive impact on pleasure or satisfaction, not to mention the lack of any research on risks or complications.

What is even more troubling to me is that Dr. Ostrzenski is a cosmetic gynecologist, and leading the public to believe that female sexual function will be improved by this discovery has the potential for major profit for his practice. Claims are already being made based on this research that you can “regain your self-confidence with genitalia rejuvenation”, despite these procedures having tragic consequences for many women.

Instead, more emphasis should be placed on the diversity found in women’s sexual pleasure and directed away from one anatomical structure being responsible for pleasure. There are a lot of interpersonal components that go into a pleasurable sexual experience. If focus is placed on finding some grape-like structure that was found in one cadaver, my concern is that pleasure might be replaced with disappointment for a lot of women.

Other Articles by Kristen Mark
Sexually Adventurous More Sexually Satisfied
Sexual Desire Discrepancy Uncovered

This post first appeared on the KinseyConfidential.com website on April 25, 2012.

Kristen Mark, MSc, is a doctoral candidate in Health Behavior at Indiana University. She is the Statistical Consultant and a Project Coordinator for the Center for Sexual Health Promotion, the Survey Director for Good in Bed, a writer for Kinsey Confidential and has written for websites and magazines. Find out more about Kristen on her website KristenMark.com, read her blogs on SexpertReMark.com, follow her on Twitter, and Pintrest.