Ask the Sexpert: Feb. 4, 2010

Dear Sexpert,

I've heard that the G-spot does not actually exist in women, but I've always thought I had an extra sensitive spot. Was it just the placebo effect?

-Sensitive in South Baker

Dear Sensitive in South Baker,

There have been contentious arguments over the G-spot ever since it was first identified. Ernst Grafenberg, a German gynecologist and sex researcher, believed there was a small area in the anterior wall of the vagina that could be manipulated to produce an orgasm in women.

In a recent study, researchers at King's College London surveyed 900 pairs of identical and fraternal female twins to investigate the genetic basis of the G-spot. Researchers asked the women whether they believed they had a specific, coin-sized area on the front wall of the vagina that, when stimulated, would produce intense pleasure and an orgasm. The idea behind the survey was that the sister of any twin who indicated that she had a G-spot should also have one.

The results of the questionnaire showed no convincing evidence for the presence of a G-spot on a genetic basis. The sister of a twin with a G-spot was not necessarily any more likely to indicate that she herself had one.

Though this was definitely an interesting study, there is also no reason to see these findings as the final word in the discussion. The unfortunate side effect of this kind of research is that nuanced results often become useless sound bites. A number of scientists, researchers, therapists and even members of the team that conducted the investigation found the terms of the study to be misleading, so the conversation is clearly far from finished.

Complicating the matter further is that pleasure from stimulation is highly subjective, so even if many women find that a specific area in their vagina can be rubbed to great effect, this area is not, of course, in the exact same spot for everyone.

So let me end by saying this: Yes, there is a G-spot. It is wherever you find that stimulation, by yourself or by your partner, is especially pleasurable.

-The Sexpert

‘Sexpert' is written by a team of peer sexual health educators and fact-checked by University health professionals. You can submit questions to sexpert@dailyprincetonian.com. Don't be shy!